Chapter 1

　　Katie-

　　'Mom, why couldn't we just park closer? It's freezing!!'

　　I pulled my coat around me tighter as I shivered.

　　Mom: 'Stop complaining. It's only a few blocks away, and we save ten dollars for not using the parking deck.'

　　'Ten dollars is nothing if I get to keep my toes!'

　　Mom: 'Oh hush. We spent nearly sixty dollars at the movies tonight.'

　　'I can't help that I love their nachos. You're the one who needed a large popcorn to herself.'

　　A breeze blew through the dark alley we were walking down and my goosebumps got goosebumps.

　　'Holy shit!'

　　Mom: 'Hey! I'm happy you're home and all, but I don't allow language like that young lady.'

　　'Sa-sorry mom. It's ja-just so ca-cold!'

　　My teeth chattered as I spoke.

　　Mom: 'Don't think about the cold. Are you ever going to tell me what happened with you and Matthew? One minute you were talking about off campus apartments together, the next thing I know, he's not coming to Thanksgiving and you're single.'

　　'I told you, it just da-didn't work out. That's all there is to it, na-nothing to talk about.'

　　Mom: 'The first boy you've ever seriously dated, who bought you a promise ring, that you said would be replaced with an engagement ring when you graduated. You two split up, and it's no big deal? Come on sweetie just tell me. Was he cheating? Too focused on school? Too focused on that fraternity of his?'

　　'I don't want to talk about it. He's not a ma-monster, it's nothing for me to wish him too much pain and agony over.'

　　I playfully bumped her hip with mine.

　　Mom: 'I just miss when you used to tell me everything.'

　　'You miss me being 7 and sneaking into your bed at night?'

　　We laughed.

　　Mom: 'Not so much the sneaking into my bed. You startled your father more than once. If only he could see you now though. The beautiful woman you're becoming. So smart, doing so well in school.'

　　'MOM! You promised. I told you I wouldn't visit if you get all mushy every time I come home.'

　　I groaned as I complained.

　　Mom: 'Fine fine. I'm just so proud of you. You know...'

　　I began wedging my face down into the neckline of my coat to hide it from the cold when I felt my mom grab my arm.

　　'What are you...'

　　Mom: 'Shhh. Quiet!'

　　There was a large, bulky figure near the wall about a hundred feet or so in front of us.

　　Mom pulled me close, looping our arms and we both started walking faster.

　　The man moved to the center of the alley as we approached.

　　We went to one side and he mirrored our movements.

　　Only ten feet away, my heart started racing.

　　Man: 'Ladies, why the rush?'

　　Mom: 'Have to hurry home, sorry to bother you.'

　　Her arm squeezed mine tighter.

　　Man: 'Well, just hold on a minute. You can't come into my territory like that and just run off. I'd like to see what's under these large coats you have on to tell you the truth.'

　　Mom: 'Take our wallets and whatever you want just let us leave.'

　　He stepped closer, stopping us, and ran his fingers along the collar of my mom's coat and down to the buttons.

　　I felt her squeeze my arm, then release it before yelling.

　　Mom: 'Baby run!!!'

　　As soon as she let go the man grabbed her by her coat and used his free hand to push me towards the wall.

　　I must have landed in the pile of trash beside the dumpster because things started collapsing on top of me.

　　My mom cried out in pain as I heard the sounds of abuse.

　　Tears fell from my eyes and I pushed the random items off me, ignoring the pain I felt.

　　Suddenly, the man sounded startled and began groaning in despair.

　　I uncovered my face to see someone in a black hoodie with their face pressed into the man's neck.

　　The hooded figure released the man and he fell to the ground.

　　I started shaking as I was approached but a hand was slowly extended down to me.

　　Whoever it was kept their head down hidden by the hood.

　　They grabbed a piece of wood from a broken pallet by the dumpster.

　　The wood was lifted in the air, then beaten into the lifeless man's neck a few times and dropped it beside him.

　　I ran to my mom and they started to leave.

　　'Wait! You have to help her, please!'

　　They stopped and turned back.

　　'That wet red stuff around her...it's blood. It's too late for her kid, sorry.'

　　It was a woman's voice.

　　'No please, I'll do anything. Just help us!'

　　'Anything?'

　　She walked towards me.

　　'Of course, but please help her!'

　　Both her hands grabbed my jacket and she lifted me so my feet were hanging just above the ground, barely dragging across it.

　　She pulled me close to her and took a deep breath in through her nose, like she was smelling me.

　　'You'd give your life for hers, right now, no questions?'

　　'Um, yes. Of course but what....'

　　'Give me your word.'

　　'I give you my word.'

　　She released me and instructed me to turn around.

　　I obeyed.

　　'OK, say goodbye and then we need to call this in.'

　　'What do you....'

　　'Say goodbye or leave without, you're choice. You have thirty seconds.'

　　I kneeled beside my mom, running my hand over her hair, in silence at first.

　　'I love you, so much. Please be ok, just please be ok....'

　　'Time to go kid. I gotta call in a violent mugging. She'll be OK, but she does need an ambulance. That means we can't be here.'

　　'But what are you...'

　　'No questions, let's go.'