“Get away from her!” Camille screamed—voice cracking, ragged, like it was tearing something outta her throat. She shoved Ellie behind the dumpster so hard the girl yelped, and her hands slipped again, slick with sweat and panic.
The knife-wielding shadow lunged—fast, violent—and the damn alley stank worse now, like rotting suya and burnt oil, jasmine twisted in something foul.
The van’s headlights blinded her, sharp beams bouncing off graffiti and rust like a slap in the face. Camille’s heart slammed so loud it drowned out everything else—He’s gonna kill her. I can’t stop it. I’m not enough. I’m not—
Her stomach twisted, sharp and ugly, bile crawling up her throat. The backpack smacked her spine again as she crouched lower, breath catching. The air was thick—sweet but sour—choking.
Sir
