One of the boys kicked him hard in the back.
“What are you going to do, orphan?” he mocked.
Lucas lifted his head, one eye swelling shut.
“Even if you kill me,” he whispered, “I won’t leave her.”
Then they heard it.
At first it sounded distant—like thunder rolling far away. But within seconds it grew louder.
Motorcycles.
Many of them.
The roar echoed through the streets.
The attackers froze.
The girl’s eyes widened with a strange mixture of fear and relief.
“My dad,” she whispered.
The two bullies panicked and ran without looking back.
Lucas barely saw the white glare of motorcycle headlights filling the alley before his legs finally gave out and he collapsed onto the pavement.
The next thing he felt was a small hand shaking his shoulder.
“Don’t fall asleep,” the girl pleaded through tears. “Please don’t die.”
Lucas forced his eyes open halfway.
“What’s your name?” he murmured.
“Emily.”
“That’s… a nice name,” he managed to say.
Then the engines stopped.
Heavy boots stepped into the alley.
Large shadows blocked the light.