The Cut That Always Bleeds | Cobra Kai

Chapter 40

Isabelle stirred awake as a gentle hand shook her shoulder. Her eyes fluttered open, and the soft hum of the bus's engine gave way to the vibrant noise of the city outside. Miguel stood over her, smiling down.

"We're here, sleepyhead," he teased.

Groaning, Isabelle stretched, her joints popping as she straightened up. "How long was I out?"

Miguel chuckled, his tone light. "Almost the whole bus ride."

Isabelle's eyes widened, and she gasped. "What? Why didn't you wake me up?"

"You were exhausted," Miguel said, his voice warm and gentle. "And I slept a bunch, too. You're not the only one who needed the rest."

She shook her head, muttering under her breath as they both stood to grab their things. Before Isabelle could reach for her backpack, Miguel scooped up both of them, slinging them over his shoulder with a grin.

"I've got it. Let me spoil you," he said, leaning down to kiss the top of her head. "Now, let's focus on finding a way to track down my dad."

"Well, you're lucky you brought me along because I already downloaded a map of the city on my phone," Isabelle said smugly, pulling out her phone as they stepped off the bus. But when she turned to Miguel, he was gone.

"Miguel?" Isabelle called out, her voice tinged with irritation. Her eyes darted around the bustling station, where vendors shouted over each other. Their stalls were overflowing with colorful trinkets, fresh food, and souvenirs.

Meanwhile, Miguel had wandered a short distance away, captivated by the vibrant market. He stopped to admire a stall filled with handwoven blankets, his curiosity drawing him further and further until he realized he'd lost sight of Isabelle. Miguel sighed, pulling out his phone, only to notice he had no signal. Frustration flickered across his face as he glanced around. That's when a tall blond man with a thick Australian accent called out to him.

"Hey, mate. You look a bit lost. Need some help?"

Miguel hesitated, eyeing the man's friendly demeanor, before giving in. "Yeah, actually. My phone's out of service, and I lost my girlfriend somewhere here. Do you think I could borrow your phone to call her?"

The Australian grinned and pulled out his phone. "Sure thing, mate. What's the number?"

Miguel leaned closer, rattling off Isabelle's number as the man typed it in. In his distraction, Miguel failed to notice two other men quietly snatching the backpacks from where he'd set them on the ground.

"Thanks so much," Miguel said, his voice full of relief.

"No worries," the Australian said, holding the phone out of reach when Miguel went to grab it. "But, uh, you wouldn't mind sparing a few pesos, would you? Minutes aren't free, you know."

Miguel frowned but nodded. "Yeah, sure. How much?"

"Five bucks sound fair?"

"Yeah, more than fair." Miguel reached for his wallet, handing the man five dollars.

The Australian finally handed him the phone, but Miguel's relief was short-lived. "Oh, by the way," the man added with a smirk, "how much do you want to pay for your bags?"

Miguel froze, glancing down to see the backpacks gone and now clutched in the hands of two guys behind the Australian. His heart sank.

"What the hell?" Miguel growled, stepping forward.

"Easy, mate," the Australian said, raising a hand to stop him. "We're just making sure your stuff is safe. Surely that's worth something."

Miguel's fists clenched, his frustration boiling over. Just as he was about to escalate things, a small hand rested on his shoulder. He turned to find Isabelle standing there, her expression calm but bored, as if this was more of an inconvenience than a threat.