Chapter 3 Age is just a number

 Sonia and her friend Lolo walked down the highway, their conversation interrupted by a group of kids blocking their path. 

Amon, stood before them, his reputation as a notorious troublemaker preceding him, but Sonia just rolled her eyes good-naturedly, aside from being a bully, what's so scary about him.

His father was one of the school's sponsors, making him a figure of fear among the students.

 "We don't want trouble, Amon. Leave us alone," Sonia warned, her gaze hard as she took Lolo's hand and tried to pass them.

 One of Amon's cohorts kicked her foot out from under her, sending her crashing to the cold floor. 

She winced in pain as the group burst out laughing.

 "Why can't you just let us be, you brats?" Lolo snapped angrily, her eyes flashing with defiance. 

Amon's glare silenced her, his grip on her hair making her cry out in pain.

 "Let me go, Amon!" Lolo cried, her voice trembling.

  "How dare you talk to me like that, you lowlife," Amon sneered, his face twisted in fury.

 Sonia dropped her school bag and launched herself at Amon, biting the hand that held Lolo's hair.

 Amon cursed, releasing Lolo as he groaned in pain.

  "You idiot, what have you done?" he shouted, but before he could finish, Sonia grabbed her bag and took off, Lolo close behind.

 "What are you waiting for? Catch them!" Amon yelled to his cohorts, who took off in pursuit.

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Sonia and Lolo gasped for breath, their hearts pounding as they leaned against a wall, trying to catch their breath. 

"Did we lose them?" Lolo asked, her voice barely above a whisper. 

Sonia shook her head, her eyes scanning their surroundings.

  "No idea, Lolo. We should get going before they catch up to us," Sonia replied.

 "What about our drivers? Won't they look for us?" Lolo asked, worry creeping into her voice.

  "It's better to stay safe than to wait to be killed by those jerks," Sonia said firmly.

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 "Did you find them?" Amon asked, scanning the school compound. 

His friends shook their heads, as Amon kicked the air in frustration.

 "Maybe they left the school," Shaun, Amon's fourth friend, suggested.

 "That's not possible; the security guards wouldn't allow it," Amon said, his tone skeptical.

 Mac, another friend, scoffed.

  "Sonia's a smart girl; I'm sure they ran out," Mac said confidently.

 "Then let's catch them. I'll teach that fatherless girl a lesson," Amon said, a smirk spreading across his face.

 His friends exchanged uneasy glances, wondering if it was the right thing to do. 

As they watched, Amon took off towards the school gate, his friends trailing behind him. 

And, as before, the security guards were nowhere to be seen. 

"They won't have gone far," Amon said.

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 "Where are we going, Sonia?" Lolo panted, her breath coming in ragged gasps as they sprinted down the sidewalk, their footsteps pounding the pavement in unison. 

They had been running since they fled the school, their legs burning with exhaustion. 

Sonia's determination to escape drove her forward, her eyes fixed on some distant point ahead.

 She was convinced that Amon and his cohorts would stop at nothing to exact their revenge.

 "Sonia, stop!" Lolo cried out, her voice hoarse from the exertion, but Sonia didn't heed the warning.

 She kept running, her ponytail bouncing behind her like a whip. Just as she was about to dash across the road, a sleek black BMW hurtled around the corner, its tires screeching in protest.

 Time seemed to slow down as the car bore down on Sonia, its chrome grille glinting menacingly in the sunlight. In a flash, a strong hand grasped Sonia's arm, yanking her back just in time. 

The BMW whizzed past, its wake sending Sonia's hair flying. Lolo's eyes went wide with terror as she let out a blood-curdling scream, her hands flying to her mouth in horror. 

"Thanks...thanks," Sonia stammered, her voice trembling as she gazed up at her rescuer. 

Lolo's eyes snapped open, and she was met with the surreal sight of Sonia standing safely beside her. Her gaze traveled upward, taking in the chiseled features of the stranger who had saved Sonia's life.

 He was dressed in black, his brown hair perfectly messy, and a rose tattoo adorned his neck, accompanied by a bold, black letter "D". 

For a moment, Lolo forgot to breathe, was he even human, wild cat eyes, jew clenched so hard she thought he might be grinding her teeth together. The stranger's piercing eyes locked onto Sonia's, and Lolo felt like she was witnessing something profound.

 "Sonia..." Lolo called out, rushing to envelop her friend in a tight hug. 

Sonia hugged her back, her heart still racing from the close call. When they pulled back, the mysterious stranger had vanished into thin air, leaving behind only the faintest hint of his presence.

 "Where did he go?" Sonia wondered, scanning the crowded street, her eyes searching everyone's faces 

"Who is he?" she asked,

 "Maybe a fallen angel sent to save you," Lolo quipped, a mischievous grin spreading across her face as she gazed at Sonia, who was still clutching her chest, a dreamy smile playing on her lips.

  "Why are you smiling?" Lolo asked, brows frowned.

  "I think I'm in love," Sonia replied, her voice filled with a sense of wonder. 

 Lolo's eyes widened in disbelief as she grasped Sonia's arm, her fingers digging deep into her skin. 

Sonia winced in pain. “What the hell Lolo”. She snapped.

  "Are you crazy? That man is old enough to be your dad! You almost died, and you're talking nonsense. You're seven, for crying out loud!" Lolo snapped, her anger mingling with concern.

  "Age is just a number, Lolo," Sonia replied, her eyes sparkling with a newfound excitement.

  Lolo face-palmed herself, rolling her eyes in exasperation.

 "Your mom won't be happy to hear about this.”

  "Only if you tell her," Sonia said, her voice laced with a hint of mischief.

"But—"

  "Please," Sonia begged, her eyes locking onto Lolo's. "I'll do your homework for the entire week if you keep this secret.".

 Lolo's eyes lit up at the prospect of having her homework done for her. 

Sonia smiled, knowing she had her friend right where she wanted her.

 "Okay, fine," Lolo agreed. "But let's get back to school and report Amon to the principal. I don't want to die today."