Run
They burst out of the gate and into the street, sunlight hitting them hard. Cars sped by, horns blaring.
Sophie stumbled, nearly losing her balance, but Talia kept her moving, her grip tight around Sophie’s wrist.
“Are you okay?” Talia asked, glancing back.
“I’m fine let’s just get out of here first,” Sophie said, rushing to keep up.
They crossed the road quickly, blending into the flow of people. Vendors shouted prices from food stalls, buses coughed black smoke, and office workers hurried past with eyes glued to their phones. The two women merged into the chaos, looking like just another pair in the city’s rush.
Talia yanked off her outer hoodie and tossed it into the crowd, leaving only her plain black armless top. Sophie did the same, dropping her scarf to the ground. They disappeared deeper into the swarm.
They kept walking with no destination in mind, but Talia’s eyes didn’t rest for a second. Every reflection, every parked car, every man who stood too still she noticed them all.
They turned into a narrow street leading toward the lower part of the city. That’s when Talia saw it a black Sienna parked across the road. The engine was running. A man leaned beside it, pretending to smoke and scroll through his phone, but his eyes weren’t on his screen. They were watching the crowd.
Talia’s stomach tightened. “They’re already here,” she muttered.
Sophie froze slightly. “What?”
“Just walk normally. Don’t look back. Stay behind me…. If we get surrounded and you get the chance, run first. They won’t kill me if they don’t get you. They want you,” Talia said, still walking.
“What do you mean I should run first?” Sophie asked, almost stopping.
Talia grabbed her hand firmly. “Just listen. If you’re safe, I’ll find my way out. I’m not saying it’ll happen, but in case it does…”
Before she could finish, the man by the Sienna began following them. Two others appeared, walking casually but with purpose. Their footsteps quickened.
Sophie clung to Talia’s arm, trembling. “Are you sure we’ll be okay? Maybe we should turn back?”
Talia gave her a tight smile, tucking Sophie’s hand under her arm. “Do you think if we’re really being followed, it’d be that easy to go back? It’s better to move forward. Either we find a way to run , or we fight.”
“But…” Sophie started.
“Just run and hide when it turns to a fight,” Talia cut in gently.
She hadn’t finished speaking when another man stepped out from the front of the alley, blocking their path. The footsteps behind them stopped.
Talia spun around four men now, closing in amd surrounding them .
The street had gone strangely empty. Only them, and the men.
“Hand her over,” one of them said, pulling a knife that glinted in the sunlight. “Peacefully hand Sophie Langford to us, and you get to leave alive.”
“And why should I?” Talia’s voice was calm, her stance firm as she kept Sophie behind her.
“Because she’s ours. Hand her over, or die with her.”
Talia smirked faintly. “You really think she’s yours? Look at her.” She glanced back looking at Sophie her eyes wide, fingers gripping the back of Talia’s top. “Even if I wanted to hand her over, I doubt she’d let go. And for your information…” her voice dropped, sharp as steel. “I don’t give away what’s mine.”
She tilted her head slightly, murmuring to Sophie without looking away. “Don’t forget what I said. Run at the first chance you get.”
Before Sophie could respond, the four men drew their knives at once.
Talia pushed Sophie back gently, planting her feet apart, muscles tightening, fists clenched.
One of the men sneered. “Then die holding hands when you get to hell.”
He charged forward.
Talia took three quick steps backward, then on the third step she lunged for his hand , grabbing his wrist. She forced the knife free, spun, and slammed her elbow into his chest. The weapon clattered to the ground but Talia caught it midair, turning it back on him. She kicked him with her feet hardly sending him flying into a pile of metal drums with a loud crash.
The next two lunged at once. Talia shoved Sophie farther behind her, ducking as the first swung wildly. The blade whooshed past her head. She came up fast, driving her fist into the second man’s ribs once, twice then a hard kick that sent him crashing into his partner.
They stumbled over each other, groaning.
Sophie stood frozen, shaking, watching the chaos unfold before her ,Talia’s movements sharp, fast, fearless.
The two men groaned on the ground, struggling to rise. The last one, taller than the rest, clenched his knife and locked his eyes on Sophie.
Talia was still focused on the others when the last one suddenly charged at Sophie.
Sophie froze too shocked to move.
Everything happened in a blur. Talia saw the blade flash, heard Sophie’s gasp, and without a second thought, she lunged forward, placing herself between them.
The knife sank into her upper chest.
Talia’s breath hitched, the pain tearing through her body. She shoved Sophie out of the way, gritting her teeth through the agony. Even bleeding, her reflexes didn’t fail, she twisted sharply, slammed her elbow into the man’s jaw, and drove her boot into his chest. He flew backward, crashing against the alley wall.
“Talia!” Sophie screamed, rushing to her side as Talia staggered, one hand clutching her chest, blood seeping between her fingers.
“I’m fine,” Talia breathed, voice tight with pain. “Do you remember what I told you? This is the time to run… now.”
“Run without you? I’m not going anywhere without you ” Sophie cried, her voice breaking.
She slipped her arm under Talia’s, helping her to her feet. The men behind them were starting to move again. In desperation, Sophie grabbed a piece of metal from the ground and hurled it toward them
then another.
“Let’s leave together!” she shouted, tightening her grip around Talia’s waist.
Talia tried to keep up, her steps heavy but determined. Sophie didn’t stop throwing anything she could reach bottles, cans, anything to buy them seconds.
Together, they bolted down the alley, footsteps echoing behind them as they disappeared into the blinding sunlight of the city.
Sophie pressed her hand over Talia’s wound, her palm slick with blood.
“You’ll be fine please, just hold on,” she whispered, still running.
Talia managed a faint smile, her eyes dimming but steady.
“As long as you’re safe… I’m fine.”
They darted into a side street, hearts pounding.
Behind them, angry voices shouted for them to stop.
Sophie glanced over her shoulder they were still coming after them .