“H-help me… please…”
I looked down at the girl who was clinging to my ankle.
“You still have the audacity to ask for my help?”
The slightly-heightened pitch of her voice seeped through the near-silent room. I could feel the stinging sensation in my hands. I glanced at the blood that was dribbling down my arm—what a pain. I was already struggling to stand up straight, and this girl wasn’t making it any easier.
She pulled at my leg. I resisted the temptation to shake her off.
“Please… whoever you are… I’ll give you anything; I’ll do anything for you… so please… just… bring me with you.”
Tears were streaming down her cheeks. Her hair was strewn all across her blushed face. It was truly a pitiful sight to behold.
Suddenly, I heard the subtle grumbling from one of the adults on the ground. I quickly turned my attention.
“…who the f*** are you… you’re a monster… you’re the devil… I don’t care if I can’t defeat you… I’ll take the girl… at least.”
Pulling a gun out of his coat pocket, he aimed it straight at the young girl.
I stared at him silently.
Screaming and crying, the girl clung to my legs like an insect, desperately begging for help. Even if I wanted to move, I couldn’t do so without kicking her away. Well, luckily for her, I didn’t need to move since it was pretty obvious what was going on.
A few seconds passed.
“Aren’t you going to shoot?”
“If you don’t hand her over to me… I’ll shoot!”
“Do it then.”
“You’re just a kid! I know you’re terrified right now! I’ll give you one more chance.”
The man held his gun with more conviction. Still, his emotions were clearly showing on his face.
I wasn’t an idiot, after all.
“Alright then, I announce that I won’t be handing the girl over to you. Now shoot.”
The gun obviously didn’t have any ammunition in it. I had counted the exact number of shots earlier. Anyways, he would’ve shot me by now if there were any inside, not trying to pull whatever this facade was.
I didn’t even need to finish him off, since he was clearly losing consciousness. He wasn’t going to be awake much longer, after taking my kick to the side.
I looked down at the girl who was clinging to me.
I leaned down a little, sliding my arms under her legs and shoulders. Lifting her up, I brought her to my chest. I could feel her soft, silky skin on my fingers.
She is cute.
I guess I’ll bring her along.
“You’re indebted to me, don’t ever forget that.”
****
The events of that day are still clear in my mind, even four years later.
She might not’ve known who I was, but she wouldn’t be forgetting about her debt to me.
She’ll never escape her weakness.
— Not until the day she finds out who I really am.
