The motorcycle roared toward us.
Loud.
Fast.
Too fast.
My heart slammed against my ribs.
"Ruhan—!" I started.
But he was already moving.
He stepped in front of me, pulling me slightly behind him.
"Stay back," he said.
The motorcycle screeched to a stop a few meters away. The rider didn't remove his helmet.
He just sat there.
Watching us.
Then he spoke.
"You made this harder than it needed to be."
Ruhan didn't reply.
The rider slowly got off the motorcycle.
Behind him, across the street, a black car turned the corner.
My stomach twisted.
"They're here too," I whispered.
"I know," Ruhan said.
"How many?"
"Too many."
The rider took a step closer.
"You should come quietly," he said to me.
"Trust me."
"I don't," I snapped.
He laughed.
"That's unfortunate."
Ruhan leaned slightly toward me.
"Pragati," he whispered.
"Yes?"
"When I move, run to the left alley."
"What? No!"
"Just trust me."
"But you—"
"Run."
The black car stopped.
Two more men stepped out.
My pulse started racing.
Three.
Against one.
Ruhan's jaw tightened.
Then suddenly—
He moved.
Fast.
Before anyone could react, he kicked the motorcycle sideways.
It crashed to the ground between us and the men.
"GO!" he shouted.
I ran.
My legs moved before my brain could think.
I dashed toward the narrow alley beside the school building.
Behind me, I heard shouting.
Footsteps.
Something crashing.
Then—
A loud thud.
I turned for a split second.
Ruhan had just knocked one of the men to the ground.
But the other two were already moving toward him.
"Ruhan!" I yelled.
"Keep running!" he shouted back.
My chest felt tight.
I hated this.
Leaving him.
But I kept running.
Because I trusted him.
The alley grew darker as I ran deeper inside.
My breathing echoed against the walls.
Then suddenly—
A hand grabbed my arm.
I gasped.
And froze.
Because the voice that spoke next…
Was one I hadn't heard in years.
"Pragati."
My blood ran cold.
"Don't scream."
I slowly looked up.
And my world shattered.
Because standing in front of me…
Was the one person I believed was gone forever.
My father.
✨ To be continued…
written by Pragati Priya( aka -Zoey)