Break Me If You Can (Anthony Padilla)

Chapter 13 || Save Me

Present Day

I wake up and sit up, stretching my arms out.

I look around and realize after a few moments of confusion, that I am still in the alley.

Anthony is still asleep next to me on the blanket.

I get up carefully, trying not to wake him up.

I dig through the suitcase and find a pair of flipflops to put on.

I quickly slip them onto my feet and start to walk back to the corner store to buy coffee.

I walk into the shop and the bell rings, just like before, but this time, the store isn't empty.

A few guys, around 18 years old I assume, are scattered throughout the store.

They look pretty dangerous.

I take a deep breath and walk briskly to the back of the store, trying to ignore them to my best abilities.

I grab a bottle of iced coffee from the refrigerators in the back and start to go to the register, but I feel a cold hand touch my shoulder.

Whipping myself around, I see one of the boys.

He is much taller than me, with black hair, a snapback hat, and oversized sweats accompanied by multiple chain necklaces.

"Oh look," he says with an obvious East Coast accent. "We got us a pretty one over here."

He motions for the rest of the gang to join him and they stride over.

I panic and try to run, but he pushes me into the limestone wall.

I hit my back, hard, and fall to the floor in pain.

I wince and try to touch my back, which is now severely bruised.

The boy kneels down to my level and lifts my chin up with his hand.

I glare at him, my body filling with anger and hatred.

"So," he says mockingly. "You think you can escape, huh? Well, that's cute. But no thanks, missy. You ain't going nowhere."

Two of the other guys grab my arms and pull me up, dragging me out of the store.

I scream for help as they carry me onto the streets against my will.

"Anthony!" I shriek, tears rushing down my face. "Anthony! Help!"

One boy punches me in the ribs and I stop yelling.

He leans in close to my face and whispers.

"Your little boyfriend cant help you now," he says. "Now shut your friggin mouth or imma mess you up fo real, you hear me?"

I nod, gritting my teeth.

I attempt to free myself, but I'm too weak and the boys are too strong.

I think about using my powers, but decide against it.

No.

I'm not a monster.

I won't do this.

I suddenly hear footsteps- running- coming from behind me.

I turn my head around as much as I can and see Anthony sprinting down the sidewalk.

"Anthony!" I yell once again. "Help!"

He runs up to one of the gang members and tries to attack him, but the boy punches him in the face.

I scream something unintelligible as Anthony bends over in pain.

Despite everything, he straightens himself and returns the attack, knocking the other guy to the ground.

He runs towards me.

The boys holding my arms let go of me and I drop onto the cement.

I use all the strength I have left to make myself stand up.

One of the boys lunges towards Anthony, grabbing his neck in a choke.

I sprint to him and kick the boy in the side, making him release Anthony.

I look around us and see that all the boys in the gang lying on the street in a bruised and bloody mess.

My mind and heart race, trying to process everything.

I fall to my knees and sob.

I'm a terrible person.

Look what I've done.

Anthony sits down next to me and pulls me into his arms.

I cry into his shoulder, wishing I could rewind time so none of this would've happened.

We sit there together in silence until we hear a noise coming from down the block.

Sirens.

This can't be good.