Noel
I kept my head down, pretending not to notice them. My fingers toyed with the edge of my sleeve, my breaths even and calm, though inside I could feel the tension building. Their voices grew louder, their footsteps closer, but I refused to acknowledge them. Maybe they’d lose interest if I just stayed quiet. Maybe they’d walk away. I wasn’t naïve enough to believe it, though. Not really.
The moment one of them grabbed my arm, I stiffened. His grip was rough, and the leer in his voice made my stomach churn.
“Hey, sweetheart. Don’t be shy.”
I pulled back sharply, only for another hand to snake around my waist. This time, I froze. My voice caught in my throat, and I hated how helpless I felt in that second. Before I could think of what to do, there was a loud crash.
“Get your hand
