Seeking Help

‘Come on.’ Landon dragged me away from the door. The kids were still pelting us with rocks and twigs, shouting in their dialect. Light-headed from the blood loss and heartbroken by Kieran’s cold attitude, I had to agree to leave with Landon. The road out of the village was lined with people. The adults didn’t attack us, but kept glaring at us and shaking their fists in the air. Zane and the two officers did not fare any better than Landon and me. When we finally left the village, every one of us was sporting multiple cuts and bruises. ‘You are bleeding!’ Zane pointed at my forehead. ‘We should get that wound treated.’ Officer Bowman led the way. ‘Hurry. It’s going to be dark soon.’ ‘They’ve gone too far!’ Zane said, indignant. ‘Barbarians!’ I saw a bruise on his left cheek, already turning blue. Once we reached our temporary campsite, Officer Baker took out a small first-aid kit from his car. ‘Let me see your wound.’ The gash had stopped bleeding. Baker cleaned the wound carefully, the