As I continued to follow them, my unease grew. The men quickened their pace, closing in on the little girl. Judging by the faces of the people we passed, it was clear that these men were not ordinary passersby. Their presence seemed to inspire fear, as others hurriedly stepped aside, avoiding eye contact, as if they knew better than to get involved.
Suddenly, one of the men lunged forward and snatched the basket from the girl's hands, sending several fruits tumbling to the ground. The girl's small frame flinched in surprise, but she stood frozen, clutching her empty hands tightly.
"Hey, kid!" the man snarled, his voice loud and threatening. "We've been looking for your father for a long time now! He's way overdue on his debt. Tell us where he is, or things are gonna get ugly!"
The other two men loomed closer, their intimidating presence amplifying the tension. The girl's frightened eyes darted around, searching for help, but the crowd around us deliberately looked away. People scattered, some pretending not to notice, others visibly terrified, unwilling to intervene.
My chest tightened as I watched the scene unfold.
"Nn..Noo..I.. don't know where he is… Please," the little girl stammered, her voice trembling as tears welled up in her eyes. Her small frame shook as she pleaded, her words barely audible over the pounding in my ears.
And then it happened. One of the men raised his hand and struck her across the face with a resounding slap. The sound echoed, sharp and merciless, as if it tore through the very air around us.
"Don't you dare lie to us!" the man bellowed, his voice seething with anger. "Let this be a warning to your family! If your father keeps hiding, it'll only get worse for you all!"
The little girl staggered, clutching her cheek. She didn't cry out but stood frozen, stunned into silence. Slowly, tears streamed down her face, each drop a testament to the pain and fear she was enduring. Her wide, sorrowful eyes stared at the ground, as if hoping it might swallow her whole and end her misery.
Something inside me snapped. I couldn't think. I couldn't reason. All I knew was the overwhelming rage coursing through my veins. My vision blurred, red-hot with fury. My body moved before my mind could catch up, acting purely on instinct, as if I'd surrendered control to the rage boiling within me.
In one swift motion, I launched myself forward, my feet hitting the ground faster than I'd ever thought possible. Before I even realized what I was doing, my leg shot out in a powerful kick that connected squarely with the man who had struck the girl.
The force was explosive, far beyond anything I'd imagined myself capable of. The man flew through the air, tumbling onto the pavement with a sickening thud. His body lay limp in the middle of the street, unconscious.
Gasps rippled through the crowd, their attention snapping to me. All around, eyes widened in shock and disbelief.
"Hey! WTF! What did you do to my brother?!" one of the remaining men yelled, his voice a mix of disbelief and seething rage as he glared at me. His eyes burned with fury, and his fists clenched as he took a step closer.
Before I could respond, he pulled a knife from his pocket, its blade catching the faint light around us. He waved it threateningly, his intent clear.
"You think you're walking away from this alive after what you just did?" he spat, his voice low and venomous. He gestured to his companion, signaling him to flank me as they prepared to attack.
I braced myself, my muscles tense and ready. There was no way I'd let them harm the little girl again. I kept my stance firm, my focus locked on the two men, determined to stop whatever they had planned.
But then, I felt a small pair of arms wrap tightly around my back. I glanced down and saw the little girl clinging to me, her tiny frame trembling like a leaf in the wind. She buried her face into my back, muffling her sobs, but I could still feel the warmth of her tears soaking through my shirt.
"I-I'm so sorry, sir," she stammered, her voice quivering with guilt and fear. "I didn't mean for you to get involved. Please… forgive me."
Her words hit me like a hammer. This child, despite everything she'd endured, was apologizing—blaming herself for the cruelty of others. My rage, already boiling over, now burned with purpose. I gently placed a hand on her arm, trying to steady her shaking frame.
"Don't worry," I said softly, my voice firm yet reassuring. "I promise, no one will hurt you again. Not while I'm here."
I turned my gaze back to the men, my determination unwavering. If they wanted a fight, they'd get one. But over my dead body would they lay a hand on this little girl again.
The man with the knife lunged at me first, his blade aimed straight for my chest. To my surprise, his movements felt sluggish—almost as if the world around me had slowed down. I stepped to the side effortlessly, avoiding the blade, and with one fluid motion, I grabbed his wrist and twisted it.
The knife clattered to the ground as he let out a yelp of pain. Before he could react, I delivered a quick strike to his stomach, sending him sprawling backward and gasping for air. He crumpled to the ground, clutching his abdomen.
The second man, perhaps emboldened by anger, charged at me, his fists swinging wildly. Again, it was as though his movements were happening in slow motion. I ducked under his first punch and sidestepped his follow-up, all without breaking a sweat. As he stumbled forward, thrown off balance, I landed a solid kick to the back of his knee, forcing him down.
Before he could recover, I grabbed him by the collar and pushed him back with enough force to send him tumbling into a pile of discarded crates. He groaned, dazed and defeated, unable to get back up.
I straightened up, not even winded, as the two men lay sprawled on the ground, groaning in pain. The crowd, which had been watching from a distance, gasped in awe, murmuring amongst themselves.
I turned to check on the little girl, who was still holding onto me, her wide eyes now filled with a mix of awe and relief. I knelt down and gave her a reassuring smile.
"It's over," I said softly. "You're safe now."
She nodded, tears still glistening in her eyes, but for the first time, there was a flicker of hope in them.