Clara’s lungs burned. She risked a quick glance over her shoulder, and her stomach plummeted. They were barely ten feet behind her now, their faces hidden beneath the heavy fabric of their hoods, their movements filled with a terrifying sense of urgency. “Excuse me! Wait!” one of them shouted.
The panic sent a jolt of pure adrenaline through her system. Clara tried to pivot onto a smaller side path, hoping to lose them near the dense hedges, but her old boots slipped slightly on the loose gravel. She stumbled, her cane skittering across the dirt as she barely caught her balance against a wooden bench.
Before she could recover, the boys closed the gap. With breathless, coordinated speed, they spread out smoothly around her. Within seconds, they had formed a tight perimeter, completely blocking every exit. Clara froze against the bench, trapped, her chest heaving as five towering figures cut off the afternoon sun, looking completely desperate.