It was autumn in New York City and, while an unnaturally icy chill had swept over the vastness of the city,<strong>Emmett Haynes</strong>couldn’t be bothered to pretend like the weather was affecting his day in any negative fashion as it seemed to be doing with the businessmen and women who passed him on the street. Being from Washington, he was used to a little bit of coolness and, even though the harsh wind cut at his exposed cheeks between his scarf and hat, he couldn’t help but smile brightly. This was because Emmett Haynes was in New York City by himself. He had been raised in a large city in Northern Washington and was, at a young age, diagnosed with a highly deadly and incurable disease that had shortened his expected life and caused him to undergo numerous surgeries. There was no known cure and the chances of survival past age 25 weren’t high.<br/><br/>But, freshly eighteen, Emmett had been released from the hospital after a successful recovery following his most recent surgery to spent an entire week with his elder brother, Miles, out in New York City. Unfortunately for Emmett, Miles’s work near Wall Street had him busy during a majority of the day and, as the snow that had fallen from the hazy skies had stopped the trains from returning his brother to their portion of Harlem and Emmett, alone in the city, was forced to fend for himself and, at his brother’s suggestion, had decided to walk down to a place called “Hand Pulled Noodle Company” for something to eat.<br/><br/>Ecstatic to be on his own for the first time in years, Emmett could ignore his illness, ignore his insecurity, and walk through a city without being the sick son, the black sheep, the weirdo.<br/><br/>In comparison to his older brother, Miles, and his twin sister, Thea, Emmett was pale. He was scrawny from so many stints on hospital food. His skin was smooth, save for a few cuts and bruises from his natural clumsiness, discolored slightly with starved freckles around his cheeks. His eyes were brown like chocolate, with a flop of short hair of similar hue which was hidden under the warmth of a maroon beanie hat. His smile was abnormally bright for his typical somber demeanor, accenting the slight parting between his two front teeth. Compared to the rest of his family, most of whom were near or above six feet in height, Emmett’s modest 5’8” was considered short. His lithe frame was wrapped in a long purple scarf, black woolen pea coat, and tight black jeans, riddled with rips near the knees.<br/><br/>He carried a beef stir fry, wrapped in brown paper bags when he heard it, the retching sound of some horrid machinery from down the alleyway about six blocks from where Miles’s apartment was. Curious, not sure what to expect, Emmett Haynes turned down the alleyway to see what was next.<br/>