The sunset illuminated the beach and gave a moment of calm for the busy summer day.

Areta was just closing her restaurant, and the back area was filled with sand on the wooden floor, the ocean breeze making her taste salt on her lips every now and then.

She just removed the last table from the open area when her young employee called her from the kitchen.

"Hey boss, I finished everything for today!", Daniel said cheerfully and came to help her carry the table without prompting, "Do you wanna go out after closing here today?".

She chuckled and and shook her head, "No, I need to head straight home. But thanks for asking".

The smile fell from his face and Areta couldn't help but laugh internally. She was giving him the cold shoulder for almost a year now, but the young man never stopped trying.

She wasn't interested in romance in the first place, and even if she was, it wasn't a guy 10 years younger than her that would be her first choice, that's for sure.

"Man, you're so mean to me, Areta...", he mumbled and they placed the table on top of the others in the corner of the lobby, "You know, we could at least try. I'm sure you will fall in love with me if you just give me a chance".

"Then I better not give you any chances", She said and left the shocked boy behind, entering the kitchen to pick her backpack and a bag of food.

Daniel followed behind after a moment and huffed, "As I said, mean".

She rolled her eyes and got the restaurant keys, "If you want a kind, lovey-dovey girlfriend, go find someone else. You should know me better than this by now".

He left the restaurant after her, and while she locked the door he said, "I like you exactly the way you are. Just saying you could have all of this, all you have to do is say yes".

Areta looked at him, head to toe, and couldn't contain a chuckle, "Right, right 'all of this'. Go home before it gets too late, it has been dangerous outside after it gets dark lately. Your mom must be worrying sick about you".

He gaped comically and complained, "You- You know I'm an adult, right?".

"Of course, I'm your boss, remember?". She turned to leave and said, "See you tomorrow, Dan. Don't be late again".

...

The walk home was calm and uneventful.

Areta loved the small, cozy city where she lived. The community was united and almost everybody knew each other. The only exception was during summer, holidays and vacation seasons, when many people would come to relax away from the stressful life of the big cities.

And that always, without exception, rises the crime rate of her peaceful city.

Now, in the middle of the summer, the streets should be buzzing with life. Areta was pleasantly surprised to find few people around today.

Her good mood stayed until she arrived home to find her doos unlocked. Her body immediately tensed and worried for the worse. Did someone entered her house?

No, no. She must have left it open by mistake, it wouldn't be the first time. Or her father could have left and forgot to lock the door. Less possible with his heath deteriorating lately, but he wasn't totally stuck to bed yet.

She opened the door slowly and heard sounds coming from his room, what seemed to be footsteps. So he was up on his feet and feeling good.

She sighed in relief and placed her things on the couch, then headed to his room, saying, "Hey dad, I know you like to go out for a walk when you're feeling good, but you have to lock the...".

Many heads turned to stare at her when she stopped by his open door.

For a moment, she just stared. Fear slowly creeping up her spine as she realized that fuck- Her father was bleeding on the floor, eyes open and staring into nothing so empty of life.

She chocked on nothing and gave a step back, "D-dad?".

His father slowly rolled his eyes to stare at her, "A-a..."

"Tsc. Motherfucker is still breathing".

Areta snapped out of her shock to look at the guys who attacked her father. They were four man, dressed in jeans and simple shirts. Two of them had knifes on their hands, tainted with blood. The others had all shorts of things, his wallet, some watches and some of her jewelry.

"You- You tried to kill him to rob us?", she asked in disbelief. They really care this little about life? About killing someone for such a shallow reason?

One of them sneered but didn't dignified her with an answer. The other, one with the knifes, sighed and said, "Come on miss, just hand us the money and we will leave you alone. Don't be like this stupid old man".

She looked back at his father and swallowed a lump of nothing, he fighted to speak, "D-don't... Just... Run".

"Shut the fuck up", one of the men kicked him on the head and his father coughed a mouthful of blood.

"No!", Areta screamed and jumped in front of his father without even thinking.

All of them glared at her and one with blond hair, holding a knife, said, "You really won't listen, will you?".

"Nah, she's one of those who don't know what's best for her...".

"J-just get whatever you want and leave", she said, shaking, looking between them with wide eyes.

"You see, we can't do that... Not after you saw our faces".

"Yeah, you will just run and call the cops on us".

His father room was small, and with just a few steps they all surrounded her.

"Unfortunately, I just see one way out of this for you".

"W-what?", she asked in a low, high-pitched tone.

A hand grabbed her head and before she could fight back or think of anyway out of it, there was something cold touching her throat, slicing it open.

She gaped, blood flooding her mouth and nose, making her choke.

They pushed her to the ground and she landed with a thud, facing his father.

The last thing she saw before death wrapped her was his blood tangling hers.