Now what?
Now what?
He’s bigger. Stronger. And he has my phone.
I have no other choice but to?—
A tall silhouette moves toward us.
Thank God. A wave of relief washes over me.
“Hey!” I shout, my voice echoing through the deserted street.
The man in front of me turns.
I use the opportunity to try to pull away from his grasp.
But it’s too late.
He tightens his grip around my arm, pulling me back against him. “Shut up,” he hisses, his breath hot against my ear.
But the silhouette comes toward us. “Let her go,” the second man says.
“This doesn’t concern you,” my attacker spits out.
But the stranger does not back down. He steps closer, his eyes hard and unflinching. “I said, let her go.”
“Help! Please!” I scream, straining to break free.
The stranger is closer now, close enough that I can make out his features. He’s young, probably not much older than I am. His jaw is rigid, and the intensity in his gaze gives me hope.
“Get off her,” he commands, his voice steady.
The man holding me stiffens. “I said this doesn’t concern you.”
“And I said let her go.”
The assailant looks between the two of us, as if he’s calculating his next move. His grip loosens for a second, just enough for me to wriggle free. I stagger away from him, toward the stranger.
The attacker lunges forward to recapture me, but the stranger is faster. He catches the man by his collar and hauls him off his feet.
“Stay away from her,” the stranger warns as he throws the attacker to the ground.
The man grunts as he lands, but he doesn’t get up. He just lies there, whimpering.
“He’s got my phone!” I shout.
“The phone, asshole,” my rescuer says. “Where is it?”
“Pocket,” the assailant grits out.
The stranger finds the phone and punches the other guy in the face.
He rises and turns toward me, his eyes softening as he reaches out a hand with my phone, “Are you okay?”
I nod and take the phone, too overwhelmed to speak.
He offers a reassuring smile before fishing out his own phone.
