Wren

S. Part 8

Sophie stopped dead in her tracks.

She whipped around, scanning the dark sidewalk behind her. She could've sworn she heard something. . .

She glanced around the area again before turning back and continuing on her way, this time listening closely to see if she could hear that noise again. But she made it all the way to the cafe without any further suspicions.

She'd offered to help Eden close up because today, Valentine's day, had been super busy. She planned to take her out to dinner after they got the cafe locked up-- but it was starting to get late. If it took too long, they'd miss the reservation she'd made. 

She smiled as she stepped into the empty shop; Eden had left the door unlocked for her. She found the girl on her hands and knees behind the counter, crawling around and struggling to pick up runaway coins.

Sophie laughed. "What happened?"

Eden glanced up and smiled. "Ugh, my stupid clumsy self knocked into the cash register while it was open, and just my luck, the whole thing went crashing down. And I have no idea how many coins rolled away--"

"Want me to help you look? We need to get out of here if we want to make the reservation on time."

"Yeah, help would be great."

They spent the next ten minutes crawling around for the runaway change, and when they were certain they'd found all the coins, they put them back in the drawer. It could wait to be counted and put away until tomorrow.

They flipped off the lights and headed out, making sure to lock the door behind them. Then Sophie took Eden's hand, and they started walking together.

"Sooo. . ." Eden started, a playful gleam in her eyes. "You want to come work with me at the cafe?"

Sophie glanced over at her, surprised by the sudden idea. "Really?"

"Yeah! I need help, and we'd get to spend time together, and--"

Sophie stopped walking and held up a hand, signaling Eden to be quiet. She tuned in a slow circle as she listened to their surroundings, certain she'd heard the same heavy footsteps as she had earlier. 

"What is it?" Eden whispered, her hand trembling in Sophie's.

"It's probably nothing. Just thought I heard footsteps. You were saying?" She turned back and pulled Eden along, still half -listening to the dark sidewalks behind them. 

"--spend more time together, you know? You're always busy training, but you're free when I'm stuck at work-- do you hear it again?"

Sophie stiffened and turned around, the hair on the back of her neck rising. A dark figure was moving towards them, it's outlines blurry and swaying, almost as if there were more than one person--

"Eden, get behind me." Sophie whispered as she stepped in front of the girl, spreading her arms out to cover her. "It might just be some people walking by, but this is strange--" she squinted down the poorly lit sidewalk, trying to discern what was happening.

But before she had time to do anything, she felt rough hands grab her arms and try to pull her away. She wrenched free and whirled around, kicking one of the dark-clothed figures square in the chest. He flew back with a grunt as Sophie ran to where Eden was being pulled away. She grabbed one of the men and yanked him off of her, then swung a powerful kick to the other's jaw. She grabbed Eden's arm and tried to pull her away--

But now they were surrounded. The men had formed a small circle and were closing in. Sophie did her best to protect Eden, but there was no way to guard her without tuning her back to the men on this side she heard a struggle right behind her, but had no time to turn and help Eden before the men lunged at her too. She fought against them; punching wildly and biting and kicking as they worked to get her on the ground. She couldn't see past the dark figures looming over her, their grips tight enough to leave bruises-- and then she felt something soft over her mouth. She tried to wrench her head away, but someone grabbed a painful fistful of her hair. 

The sticky-sweet scent burned her nose and her head started to swim, making her feel like she was spinning. Her eyes drifted shut and she slumped over in the men's arms, completely unconscious.

* * * 

"Let's get em' in the van before someone drives by." 

"Come help me lift this one's legs."

"Did she break your jaw?-- She knocked out three of your teeth?!!"

"--can't believe they didn't tell us she could fight like that. But at least it was just the one; if both of em' could, we'd have been in trouble."

The doors to the black van slid shut with a slam, and it screeched away from the curb, two unconscious passengers on the floor in the back.

        Part Nine Coming Soon