A wounded prey
1280 Words
TESSA
I slightly stiffened as one of them came closer. The one with the shiny head. He appeared to be the boss. The gang leader.
“What protection money?”
He sighed, rubbing his thick brows. “You’re new in this town.” His gaze, sharp and intimidating, bore down on me from top to bottom before he locked eyes with mine. “We collect protection money from every shop, lady.”
“Maya, you didn't tell her?” He slightly tilted his head, giving her a mischievous glance. She shrieked behind me, clutching the fabric of my top as tight as she could. “Your mom also pays the protection money for her flower shop.”
“I am not paying you any money.”
The corner of his mouth curled. “Lady, don't invite trouble. You just started this business, customers are flooding in… Would you like it if we burn it down to ashes?”
My breath caught in my throat. It took me a minute to snap back.
“Leave my shop or I'll call the cops.”
They passed each other a look before laughing at my face as if I had told them a joke.
“What's so funny!?”
“Try calling the cops,” he said, loud and confident. “But be ready for the consequences.”
I gulped, holding back the fear from overshadowing my face.
“You’ve got a week to decide,” he said, his voice cold and a deadly warning. “Two thousand dollars... or you can watch this café disappear.”
“Trust me, your grandpa never refused.”
A cruel smile tugged at his lips before he turned and strode out. His gang followed behind him like vultures preparing for a feast.
The door slammed shut.
Silence flooded the café.
The moment they were gone, the air felt lighter, but my hands were still trembling.
“Two thousand dollars? Is he insane!?”
Maya stepped forward, fear flashing in her eyes. “We shouldn't cross them. Last year, a shopkeeper refused to pay their protection money, and they wrecked his entire store.”
I thought it was an empty threat.
I was wrong.
For the next few days, his men came every day to my café to threaten me. The threats were growing dreadful. I didn't care about myself. But I was worried about Maya and the customers coming to my café.
Every time we chased them away, he increased a thousand dollars. The amount skyrocketed to six thousand dollars.
The townspeople told me not to mess with them. But I wasn't born to obey some thugs. This was inhumane.
In the end, I had to ask the cops for help.
“Officer Evans, you need to help us. They’re crossing every limit.”
“Fine. I'll handle them.”
“Thank you.”
The next day, I arrived at the café only to hear that the thugs had been arrested the night before. Officer Evans took immediate action.
“Now, those idiots won't bother us,” I whispered, holding the coffee machine.
Maya nodded.
“By the way… Where are the Reapers?” I asked, peeking upstairs. “I haven't seen them since that day.”
Maya put down the coffee beans on the counter. “There's a big race in the next town over. Knowing them, they're probably there.”
Her eyes met mine, and a smug grin spread across her face.
“What?”
“You’ve officially banned them from this café. Why are you curious now?”
I blinked, taken aback. “It was just a question. Get back to work.”
We worked non-stop till late at night. After Maya left, I closed the café and headed towards my house only to get a call from Officer Evans.
[Hello, officer. I want to thank you for…]
[Tessa, listen to me carefully.] He sounded serious, almost panicking.
[Those thugs got bail sooner than expected. They've contacts, Tessa. Some builder got them out. I'm sorry.]
My chest tightened.
[Do not go out late at night. They're dangerous. I'll find solid evidence against them before arresting them again. Take care.]
As he ended the call, I felt someone was standing behind me. The alley was wide but empty, only a street lamp glowing in the dark.
“Did that cop warn you?” A familiar, devilish voice cut through the air.
I slowly turned toward the voice.
Those thugs emerged from the shadows one by one, all five of them standing in the darkness. The sight sent a chill racing down my spine.
“Did you really think the cops could protect you?” One of them sneered.
My pulse spiked. Instinctively, I backed away.
“This stopped being about protection money the moment you called them,” another spat. “Now you're going to pay for it.”
Panic tightened around my chest as they spread out, cutting off every possible escape.
“Grab her,” their leader ordered.
A cruel grin twisted his face.
“The café's ours. And as for her...” His gaze swept over me, making my stomach turn. “We've got someone willing to pay good money.”
The men chuckled as they moved closer.
Rough hands seized my arms and forced me to my knees. I fought with everything I had, twisting and thrashing, but there were too many of them. My screams vanished into the night.
“Strip her,” the leader ordered casually, leaning against the wall as if he were watching a show.
Terror slammed through me.
“Don't touch me!”
A sharp tug on my hair snapped my head back. Pain exploded across my scalp, stealing the breath from my lungs.
“Hold still,” one of them snarled.
My heart pounded so hard it felt like it would burst through my ribs.
One man stepped closer. Without a word, I drove my heel down onto his boot with all my strength. He howled and staggered back.
Before the others could react, I slammed my shoulder into the man beside me and lashed out with a kick. He doubled over, cursing.
I tore myself free and sprinted away. My heels flew off somewhere behind me, but I didn't dare look back. I just kept running.
“Get her!” The leader roared. His voice echoed through the alley like thunder.
“Move, you idiots!”
Heavy footsteps exploded behind me as the gang charged after me.
I ran harder than I ever had in my life, panic fueling every stride. One thought pounded through my head… Don't let them catch you.
My legs were giving out.
Every step felt more exhausting than the last, my muscles burning. Before I realized it, I had reached the edge of town.
The empty road stretched endlessly ahead.
I stumbled. Then collapsed to my knees. I couldn't run anymore.
Footsteps echoed through the darkness.
They had found me. The thugs emerged, grinning like predators closing in on wounded prey. “There she is.”
“Told you she wouldn't get far.”
“Let's take her back.”
Tears blurred my vision as I stared up at them.
There was nowhere left to run.
Suddenly… A low rumble shattered the silence.
My head snapped toward the sound. In the distance, headlights pierced the darkness.
One.
Two.
Three.
Seven blazing beams cut through the night, sweeping across the road like fire. The growl of powerful engines rolled through the air.
The approaching lights illuminated my trembling. I lifted my hand, shielding my eyes against the lights, and inhaling a soft breath, I slowly stood to my feet.
- Writer
