Agnes was hit with a wave of unexplained sadness.
At the same time, she felt an odd sense of camaraderie.
Taking the bracelet, Agnes said, âGodfather, if you donât mind, Iâll come by often to chat.â
Looking back, Agnes felt she might have been a bit rash But the term âgodfatherâ felt oddly natural She was usually an introverted person, not one to easily make friends.
But for some reason, she felt a special bond with Albert.
Maybe it was his beef burgers, they tasted just like her momâs Perhaps it was just the vibe that day.
And just like that, Agnes found herself with a new godfather.
Albert was over the moon when Agnes addressed him like that.
âGood girl, Iâll protect you, no one will hurt youâ Albert said.
That night Agnes and Albert chatted for hours about nothing in particular Agnes never asked about Albertâs past For Agnes, her visits to Albert were merely gestures of companionship, keeping an elderly man company. Their bond was straightforward: she addressed him as godfather and ensured she visited often. Nothing complex.
Atten in the evening, she left the restaurant and began her walk back to her hotel. The alley was deserted, the light rain adding an eeriness to its solitude. A shared glass of wine with Albert had left her slightly buzzed, making her feel lighter, as if her concerns had momentarily faded.
But that tranquility was soon disrupted. Her path became blocked by a group of men garishly dressed in heavy metal attire, their hair dyed in vivid hues. Their leader, a gaunt man with yellow hair, gave her a predatory once-over. Panic flared briefly in Agnes, but she attempted to maintain her composure and stride past them However, the man with yellow hair obstructed her progress. âHey there, pretty lady,â he drawled, âItâs not safe for you out here.
Let me escort you backâ When he reached out, presumably to caress her face, she instinctively slapped his hand away Back off she wamed.
His response was a raucous laugh, shared by his entourage. Feisty I like it, he said, attempting to close the distance between them again. But as he reached out Agnes used his momentum against him, sending him sprawling with a well-executed throw Clearly, Agnes wasnât someone to be trifled with.
Her years of Taekwondo training were paying off.
But she knew she was outnumbered and this was no place to get into a fight.
So, she took her chance and ran.
The yellow-haired guy, reeling from a dislocated arm, huffed, âChase her, Iâm gonna teach her a lesson.â
Agnes ran for her life, but she was a bit tipsy and her legs felt like jelly She didnât get far before the gang surrounded her.
The vicinity was empty, set to be torn down, with only a forsaken park nearby. Agnes wished she had run back towards Albertâs restaurant However, even though Albert seemed robust for his age, he wouldnât be a match for multiple attackers.
She didnât want to put him at risk. But as she stared at the five menacing figures now surrounding her, she felt cornered.
The leader, with his yellow hair, hobbled towards her, brandishing a knife. âMake this easy for yourself,â he sneered, âor youâll regret it.â