Sweat broke out on her face as she ran through the dark streets, desperately trying to distance herself from them. She believed they were going help her so she fell for their tricks. Her feet ached, but she couldn't stop, not when she was so close to home.
She was in a dilemma and slowed down, lifting her head to pray for God's protection.
'I don't want to die this way, especially with Nana waiting for me at home.' she thought.
"Her legs are short, so she couldn't have gone far." one of the thugs said.
Hearing his voice and thinking of Nana's aged face, she mustered determination and ran in the opposite direction of home. Suddenly, a hand gripped her, causing her to jump in fright and scream. The person quickly covered her mouth, muffling her terror-filled cry.
"If you want to be found you can keep on with the shout." she heard a rough but soft voice whisper in her ear, sending a tingling sensation through her body as his hand dropped from my mouth.
The next minute he pulled her into a narrow dark alley. She was about to speak when he placed his fingers on her lips.
"I'm sure I heard her voice coming from here." She heard the voice of one of the thug and her breath hitched.
Closing her eyes, she shook furiously as she imagined things they'd do to her if she was found. Tears began falling from her closed eyes as she remembered the times Nana warned her against leaving the shop late. Suddenly she felt a hand rubbing my arm soothingly and she sobbed harder. The next moment she was wrapped in a pair of arms and she glanced up in surprise but her head was pressed back down.
The silhouette looked down at the tiny frame shaking against his frame and his face got dark. He was only passing by when he saw the thugs after the girl, he wanted to mind his business but he didn't know what pulled him to her.
With a shaky voice, she whispered against his chest. "Are they gone?"
Snapping out of whatever daze he was, he looked peeped out and couldn't find any single life outside.
"I think so." He answered and she tried pushing him away from her only for him to hold her wrists, halting her movements and she looked up to the stranger. "I said I think so. They could still be around waiting for you to come out."
Though dark and she couldn't see his face, he could decipher he was staring at her with a frown plastered on his face.