Lara's Point of View

  I was walking down the street, heading towards the mall, still thinking about the snacks I had just bought when something unusual caught my eye.

  A child, with striking brown hair, was being pulled roughly by a man in broad daylight. My steps faltered as I stared at the scene, feeling a twist in my gut.

  "Hey! That's not nice," I called out, moving towards them, feeling a surge of protectiveness rise up in me.

  He is basically look like bullying a child.

  The man glanced over his shoulder, his grip tightening on the child's arm. His expression was cold, annoyed even.

  "Miss, kindly mind your own business," he spat out before continuing to drag the child away.

  Mind my own business? I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I quickened my pace and stepped in front of him, forcing him to stop. I looked down at the child—tears welled up in her wide eyes, her lips trembling, and that was enough to set me off.

  "You're literally—no. Hold on." I turned my attention to the child.

  "Do you know him?" I asked gently, bending down slightly so that I was on her level.

  The little girl's tears finally spilled over as she shook her head, her voice barely above a whisper

  . "N-No."

  My stomach dropped.

  So this is a kidnapping.

  Without hesitation, I reached out and grabbed the man's arm, yanking him away from the girl with more force than I probably should have. His grip on her released instantly as he stumbled back.

  "This child just told me she doesn't know you. So you're basically kidnapping her in broad daylight," I said, my voice growing cold as I twisted his arm behind him.

  "Ouch, ouch! So what?!" He winced, trying to wriggle free from my grip.

  "It's none of your business, anyway!"

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  So what?! None of my business? Was this guy serious?

  I tightened my hold on his arm, twisting it just enough to make him squeal louder. By now, people in the street had started to notice the commotion, eyes drawn to the scene as I held him in place.

  "You know what? You'd better get lost," I said firmly, summoning a bit of magic to my fingertips. With a simple spell, I teleported him far enough away from us that he wouldn't be a problem anymore.

  Where exactly did I send him? Honestly, I didn't care. He was someone else's problem now.

  All eyes turned to me, but my focus shifted back to the little girl who was still crying softly. She looked so small and fragile, her tiny form trembling. I crouched down in front of her, softening my expression.

  "There, there. He's gone now, see?" I reached into my bag and pulled out a small treat—a piece of candy I had been saving for later.

  The girl sniffled, wiping at her eyes with the back of her hand, but she still looked wary.

  "R-Really?" she asked, her voice so small it broke my heart a little.

  "Really," I assured her with a warm smile, holding out the candy.

  "He won't come back, I promise."

  Hesitant at first, she finally reached out and took the treat, her tears slowing as she focused on it. As she nibbled on the cotton candy, I took a deep breath.

  "Where's your mommy, sweetie?" I asked, hoping she could point me in the right direction. But her answer wasn't what I expected.

  "I... don't know," she whispered, staring down at the ground.

  My heart sank. Don't know? That wasn't good. My mind started racing.

  Is there some kind of lost-and-found for kids here? This city's so huge, there must be a place for lost children, right?

  "Do you have any family here? A brother, a sister?" I tried again, hoping to get any information out of her.

  She simply shook her head and took another bite of the cotton candy.

  "No... no mommy and daddy" she mumbled, her voice barely audible.

  I froze. No parents? My chest tightened, and for a moment, I didn't know how to respond. The weight of her words hit me hard. This poor child... was she all alone?

  I forced a smile, trying to keep the situation light despite the storm of emotions brewing inside me.

  "Alright, how about this sweetie —we sit over there," I pointed to a nearby bench, "and we'll wait. Maybe your siblings or someone will come looking for you?"

  She looked at me with those big, tear-filled eyes again, hesitant but slowly nodding. I held out my hand, and after a moment of wiping her tears away, she reached for it. Her small hand slipped into mine, so tiny, so delicate.

  I couldn't help but wonder, What would have happened to her if I hadn't been here? I should beat the crap out of that young man.

  As we walked to the bench, I kept my thoughts to myself, but inside, I was still fuming. The streets were bustling with people, and yet no one else had stepped in to help her. It made me wonder how many others like her might be wandering around, lost or in danger, while everyone else just walked by.

  Once we sat down, I glanced around, scanning the crowd for any signs of trouble. I couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't the end of whatever was happening here. But for now, at least, this little girl was safe.

  I smiled down at her, trying to ease her worry

  . "Don't worry, we'll figure this out. Maybe get you some more snacks while we're at it, huh?" I said, gently squeezing her tiny hand.