“Let me go! Who are you? Let go of me!” York kicked and squirmed with <b>all </b><b>his </b>might, his little legs iling as he tried to shake his head free from the man’s <b>grip</b>. The man’srge hand mped tightly over York’s mouth.


    “Keep quiet, kid, or you’re gonna get hurt.”


    “That’s right, we just want money. Stay still, and as soon as we get what we want, we’ll let you go.”


    “Let me go! Help! Somebody, help–mmph!” York shouted, but the man’s hand covered his whole face. York, desperate, bit down hard. The man yelped in pain and jerked his hand away, shaking it in the air.


    For a split second, York took his chance and shrieked even louder. His eyes were rimmed red, but he didn’t cry; instead, he kept struggling, kept yelling for help.


    “The car’s here! Shove him in, quick!”


    “This kid’s slippery as an eel,” one of the men grumbled, finally scooping York under


    his arm.


    Suddenly, a backpack came flying and mmed into the man’s back.


    He grunted, losing his grip. York broke free just as another man lunged to grab him–but a well–timed flying kick knocked him t on the pavement.


    “Damn it! Who the hell-?” The man crashed onto the hot concrete, scraping his arm. The pain and surprise made him curse through gritted teeth.


    “What’s going on over there?” A ck sedan screeched to a halt, and another man in dark clothes got out.


    “You little brat! Messing with us, huh?” The man who’d been hit with the backpack tossed it aside in frustration. Now all three men closed in, advancing on Alessia.


    Alessia kept her eyes fixed on them, shielding York behind her as she slowly backed


    away.


    “Alessia…” York clung to her shirt, his voice trembling with fear.


    “I’ve already called the police. The station’s five minutes from here, so if you’re smart, you’ll leave now.” Her voice was steady, her eyes unwavering, not a trace of fear despite her slight frame.


    The men hesitated, ncing at each other, clearly second–guessing themselves.


    <i>1/2 </i>


    <b>11:53 </b>


    Suddenly, the wail of sirens pierced the air. Two <b>of </b><b>the </b>men <b>stepped </b><b>back</b>, <b>but </b><b>the </b>one who’d just arrived wasn’t about to give up that easily.


    “They’re just kids! Grab them and get in the car!”


    The other two hesitated, but the ringleader gritted his teeth and charged <b>forward</b>.


    Alessia reacted instantly, kicking toward his groin. But he was fast–clearly no stranger to a fight–and caught her foot, yanking her off bnce. Alessia twisted, using his own momentum to flip him over her shoulder and m him to the ground.


    The other two rushed in to help, and even Alessia struggled against three grown men. York, wide–eyed, scrambled away and dove into a nearby hedge, ignoring the scratches. When he emerged, he was gripping a long, thin branch covered in sharp


    thorns.


    “Leave us alone!” he shouted, waving the branch wildly as he charged at the men.


    “Damn it!” The thorns raked across exposed skin, leaving angry red welts and making the man in ck curse in frustration.


    He grabbed the branch, nearly dragging York with it. Alessia let go of her attacker, Tunging to pull York back to safety. But in doing so, she was shoved hard to the ground by another man.


    The sun–baked pavement was scorching hot, and the rough concrete scraped Alessia’s arms and legs, leaving raw, bleeding scratches.


    She gasped, pain twisting her features, but she pulled York close, shielding him with her body.


    The three men closed in, reaching toward them as York and Alessia braced themselves for what mighte next.