Running away (2)

"Excuse us, Miss Huang. If you could come with us please," one of them addressed her respectfully, stepping forward. His voice was low and gruff, and his face was a detached and expressionless mask.

"Who are you? Why are you following me? What do you want with me?" Emma snapped at them.

"We work for Boss Long," the man said with a respectful bow. "We've been instructed to look after you, Miss Huang."

Emma was not phased by the man's attempt to appear respectful and non-threatening. She scoffed. Look after her? More like follow her in case she left her apartment during the night.

"Boss Long told us that if you decided to leave earlier, we would should escort you to him."

What an interesting way to phrase that they were here to stop her from doing exactly what she wanted to do: run away. A cold shiver of dread ran down Emma's back, at the thought that Mr. Long had anticipated her actions.

"Well, I don't want to go with you. I don't know you. Why would I go with complete strangers?" she countered, raising her chin defiantly.

"Please don't make it difficult for us, Miss Huang. Just come quietly," the other man said, lowering his voice threateningly and taking another step forward.

"Like hell, I'm going to come quietly!" she growled at them. She balled her fists in anger and raised them threateningly in front of her. The two men did not look the least intimidated, and continued stepping closer.

"If you won't come willingly we were instructed to use force if necessary," the second man said warningly. They both took another careful step forward, closing the distance even further.

"Stay back!" she yelled, but they just kept advancing.

Emma backed away until her back hit the wall blocking the alley. She was trapped. There was only one way out, and it was through those two men. Mustering her courage, Emma rushed towards them, I'm a desperate attempt to push between them and escape down the alley. But they were two strong men against a petite woman. She didn't stand a chance.

It cost them almost no effort to hold her back. They each grabbed one of her upper arms, locking her in place between them. As if she was a simply a piece of furniture, they half lifted her from the ground and proceeded to drag her away down the alley. If the situation wasn't so desperate, it would have looked quite comical.

"Let. Me. Go!" Emma growled, trying to pull her arms free, but it was no use. They were locked firmly in the two men's grip, and she was unable to move them at all. Trying to do something, anything, she instead started kicking at the men with all the force she could muster.

However, the two seemed wary of using too much force in subduing her, and accidentally hurting her. So they let themselves be kicked, all the while continuing to drag her along. Their indifferent reaction to her desperate struggle was chilling. It was like they were not even humans, but robots performing a set task.

Seeing how physical resistance wasn't working, Emma changed tactic.

"Help! Heeeelp! Someone! Please help me!" she started screaming at the top of her lungs.

Someone would surely hear her, she thought. Someone would surely come and help her.

But the rain was intensifying and the sound of it was so loud at her shouts and the sounds of her desperate struggle was drowned in the noise.

Still Emma did not give up. She was not the type to resign herself to her fate.

Emma was a fighter.

She continued shouting and struggling, trying to brace her feet against the ground to bring them to a halt or at least slow them down. She tried stomping on the men's feet and kicking their shins, but the two men seemed to barely register her attacks. They simply continued towards the opening of the alley.

"Please... Someone help! Help! Help me!" Emma sobbed.

But no one was coming. She was all alone. For a split second, just a second, hopelessness overwhelmed her. Tears started running down her face, mixing with the droplets of rain.

"Someone... Please..."

Abruptly, the two men halted. "What the...?" one of them mumbled.

Emma looked up confused, thinking for a moment that they had been moved by her pitiful display. But their attention was focused elsewhere. The two men were looking ahead towards the opening of the alley, where a large dark shape was blocking the exit.