The gang of bullies scrambled to their feet. They dragged their injured leader and sprinted out of the parking lot, terrified of the monster in the black hoodie.
The wind howled across the empty asphalt. The metallic smell of blood hung in the air.
Cody finally found his voice. He let out a wild whoop and ran toward Dasia, throwing his arms wide for a hug.
Dasia shifted her weight and lifted her heavy bag, using it as a shield. Cody slammed into the canvas instead of her chest.
"Holy shit!" Cody yelled, bouncing back. "That roundhouse kick! Did you secretly train with monks? What happened to you?"
Dasia ignored him. Her ears twitched.
Beneath the sound of Cody's yelling, she heard a faint, rhythmic sound. A soft sniffle. It was coming from the undercarriage of a black SUV parked three spots away.
Her muscles instantly tensed. She dropped her bag and moved silently toward the vehicle, her footsteps making zero noise on the pavement.
Cody slapped a hand over his mouth, terrified that another gang member was hiding.
Dasia crouched down and peered behind the massive rear tire.
It wasn't a thug with a weapon. It was a little boy, maybe seven years old. He wore a pristine, tailored uniform from the elite prep school across the street.
The boy was clutching a high-end handheld gaming console to his chest. Tears streamed down his chubby cheeks. He stared at Dasia with wide, terrified eyes.
The violent aura surrounding Dasia vanished. She let out a slow breath, releasing the tension in her shoulders.
The boy shrank back against the tire. The console slipped from his hands and clattered onto the dirty asphalt.
Dasia lowered herself onto one knee, bringing her eyes level with his so she wouldn't tower over him.
She reached out with her long, pale fingers and picked up the console. The screen showed a "Game Over" screen on a difficult boss fight.
Her thumbs flew over the buttons in a blur. Within ten seconds, the boss exploded into pixels. The "Victory" banner flashed.
She handed the console back to the boy.
"The bad guys are gone," Dasia said. She softened her raspy voice, making it as gentle as she could. "You're safe."
Landon stared at the victory screen, then looked up at Dasia's sharp, handsome face. The fear in his eyes melted away, replaced by absolute awe.
"Are you... are you a pro gamer?" Landon sniffled, wiping his nose with his expensive sleeve. "You fight better than my brother does in his games!"
Dasia's eyes darkened for a fraction of a second at the mention of pro gaming. She stood up.
"I'm not," Dasia said. "Go home. It's not safe here."
She turned to walk away.
A small, warm hand clamped down on the fabric of her hoodie.
Dasia stopped. She looked down. Landon was gripping her clothes like his life depended on it.
"I'm lost," Landon said, his lower lip trembling. "My driver went to get coffee and I wandered off. Can you take me to the rich school across the street? My brother is there."
Cody waved his hands frantically behind Dasia's back, mouthing, No! Don't go over there! The elite school was off-limits to public school kids.
Dasia looked at Landon's red, freezing nose. A sudden memory hit her-her brother Gerald, crying in his room after being bullied when they were kids.
A painful knot formed in her chest. The ice around her heart cracked just a little.
"Fine," Dasia sighed. "Stay close."
Landon cheered. He glued himself to her side, his small shoulder brushing against her leg.
Dasia turned to Cody. "Go home. Don't follow me."
Her tone left no room for argument. Cody nodded rapidly and sprinted away.
Dasia and Landon walked down the sidewalk toward the massive iron gates of the elite academy. The setting sun cast long, orange shadows behind them.
Landon didn't stop talking. He bragged about how amazing his older brother was, even though he had a terrible temper.
Dasia kept her hands in her pockets, offering only a low "Mm" in response.
As they crossed the street, a sports car sped around the corner, ignoring the crosswalk.
Dasia's arm shot out. She grabbed Landon by the collar and yanked him hard against her side, shielding him with her body as the car roared past.
Landon buried his face in her hoodie. He smelled the clean scent of laundry detergent. He looked up at Dasia's sharp jawline, completely convinced that this dark, scary boy was his guardian angel.
