The night air was cold against Kofi's face as he ran, the empty streets of their quiet neighborhood a silent, indifferent witness to his frantic sprint. The convenience store was only a few blocks away, but it felt like miles, each stride a desperate, burning effort. 'Faster. I have to be faster.'
He rounded the final corner, the bright, cheerful lights of the 24-hour store a jarring contrast to the darkness of the alley that ran alongside it. He skidded to a stop at the mouth of the alley, his breath coming in ragged, painful gasps.
And he saw them.
Yuna was pressed against the brick wall at the far end of the narrow alley, her small frame illuminated by the dim, yellow glow of a single security light. She was surrounded by three men, large, shadowy figures who were much older, their laughter a low, ugly sound in the quiet night. One of them had her cornered, his hand braced against the wall next to her head, his body blocking any chance of escape.
