Just when I thought all hope was lost, a shout rang out from the darkness. "Hey! What’s going on here?"
The men froze, their heads snapping towards the voice. I turned too, my heart leaping with a mix of fear and hope.
A figure emerged from the shadows, holding a flashlight that cut through the darkness. He was tall and broad-shouldered, his face set in a grim expression.
"Get away from her!" he barked, his voice commanding.
The scarred man sneered but didn’t release his grip on me. "And who the hell are you?"
The newcomer stepped closer, the light revealing a badge clipped to his belt. "Deputy Sheriff. Now let her go, or you'll regret it."
The men hesitated, clearly weighing their options. The short man muttered something under his breath, and the lanky man spat on the ground, but t
