Wrong place, right time

"Ohh. That's lovely," Emilia stated, turning the earrings over in her hands. "I think these are the ones."

The store assistant nodded. "Shall I wrap these up then?"

Emilia bit her bottom lip. "What do you think? I'm not sure if mum will like them."

The store assistant smiled. "Buy them. I'm not just saying that because I work here. I bought them for my mum last Christmas. She loved them!"

"I just wish I could afford more..." Emilia began, "but you're right. Let's wrap these up!"

Emilia dug into her bag, searching for her wallet.

"Nobody move! Give us the jewels!"

Emilia looked up to find two men with guns blocking the exit. They pushed her down, making their threat to not move redundant.

"Please. Don't hurt us." The store assistant begged, holding her hands up.

A little boy, no more than 9 stuck his head around the counter. Emilia hadn't realised there were more customers in here.

The two men began smashing the glass cabinets, moving in the direction of the boy. Emilia gestured wildly to the boy to crawl towards her.

The boy shook his head, too afraid to move. Emilia smiled at him, trying to reassure him without making sounds or alerting the men with guns.

The boy inched forward. Emilia held out her arms in an open embrace, to reassure the boy.

He made it next to her, just as the men smashed the glass near to where he'd been hiding.

"What's your name?" Emilia whispered.

"I'm J...James." The boy stammered.

Emilia wrapped one arm around the boy. "I'm Emilia. But my friends call me Emmie. And I think we're friends now."

"What are you doing?" One of the men screamed.

"Nothing." Emilia lied, rolling over to shield the boy from their view. "You can go to hell!"

"How dare you!" He began, moving to slap her. As his hand came close to her face she spat at his.

He grabbed her by the hair and his odorous breath asked, "have you got anything valuable on you?" The man leered down at her. "Have you already bought something?"

Emilia shook her head and pointed to the counter.

The man picked up the earrings. "These? They're not worth anything." He laughed as he threw them to the floor.

The boy let out a little squeak behind her, as the earrings landed next to him.

"What was that?" The man yelled.

Emilia tightened her grip of the boy to shield him from view. The man began to tower over her, until "let's move!"

The other armed man grabbed his arm and they ran out the door.

The store assistant, the boy and Emilia didn't move, frozen in fear.

"Are they gone?" The store assistant whispered.

Emilia went to stand up to see out the window when sirens sounded outside. "Police?" She questioned.

"Oh. Of course! I triggered the alarm when they smashed in. I totally forgot." The store assistant admitted. "Always in the nick of time."

As the police began to pile in, guns drawn, Emilia asked, "this happens often?"

"Hey Lisa." The front officer called.

"Hey Paul." The store assistant answered.

"Same guys as last time?" Paul began, looking around at the carnage.

"Same gang I think. But I didn't recognise these men." Lisa answered.

The boy began poking Emilia's arm for attention. "Is it safe?" He asked her, his voice slightly shaking.

The officer, Paul, came over, realising for the first time that there were other people here.

"Are you two okay?" He asked, bending down to look them over.

"We're fine." Emilia answered, as the boy was still too scared to move.

"We will just need to take your statements, and we can do that here, then you're free to go." Paul explained.

After what seemed like hours of questioning, Emilia went to grab her earrings off the floor. They weren't anywhere to be found.

"I've already wrapped them for you. You were so brave." Lisa said, smiling with a small bag outstretched in her arms.

"I'll just grab my wallet." Emilia said, but Lisa tutted.

"No chance. You were so brave and you distracted the men so they didn't grab as much. It's all covered by insurance but it's still a pain."

Emilia smiled as she grabbed the bag. It was heavier than she remembered. "Thank you Lisa. Mum better love these silly earrings!"

Lisa winked as she said, "she will love everything that's in the bag!"

Emilia didn't understand the wink, but needed fresh air so waved as she moved towards the door.

"Wait!" A tiny voice called out as she opened the door.

Turning around she saw the small boy running towards her.

"You can't leave without saying good bye. You saved me!" The boy squeaked. Emilia went to deny it but he continued. "I snuck away from my babysitters to buy a present for my grandmother. I didn't think anyone would notice. But I'm in so much trouble now!"

Emilia laughed at the boy's honesty. She stuck out her hand, "if you ever need anything James, you just come looking for me."

The boy smiled at the level of seriousness Emilia put on. "Oh oh. Here they come."

James cowered behind her as two men in black stormed over towards them.

"James! Thank God! What happened here?" The man glared at Emilia.

"They were robbed. But we're ok. Aren't we James?" Emilia promoted.

"Yep. She saved my life!"

The man almost exploded. "What? What happened? Your father is going to kill us for losing you!"

James stared at the ground, so Emilia replied. "Nothing happened. He just bought a gift and no one has to know what happened here. Right?"

The men looked at each other, trying to decide on the truth or saving their own backsides.

"Well. It was nice meeting you James. But I have a birthday party to go to." Emilia gave James a hug. "See you around."

Emilia waved as she walked towards the bus stop. Sitting on the bus she finally let out a sigh of relief, until she saw the time. Buying her mum a gift shouldn't have been this time consuming. Or dangerous. Regardless of her near death experience, she was about to face another if she got home late.

---

"What do you mean you lost him?" The voice thundered down the corridor.

James could hear the men trying to explain. He knew he shouldn't have snuck away from them; but they wouldn't let him buy anything for his grandmother. They wouldn't let him do anything.

James tiptoed down the corridor and into his father's study.

"But boss. He's fine." One of his bodyguards began.

"Fine? He could have been shot by one of Marlano's gangmen. I could have lost him!" His father yelled before he placed his head in his hands.

James ran out from his hiding spot and jumped into his father's lap.

"James? What are you doing awake?" His father hugged him tight.

"I didn't want you upset. I could hear you being angry. And it wasn't their fault. I ran away. But Emilia saved me. So don't cry." James explained matter-of-factly.

"Emilia?" His father began.

"That's the lady who was with him, sir." One of the men explained.

"She saved me dad." James added.

"We checked with the police records when we got back to The Warren, and apparently she shielded him from the gunmen, Mr. Tribani." The other bodyguard explained.

"Who is she?" Mr. Tribani asked. "I must thank her." He hugged James closer to his chest.

The bodyguards looked at each other. "Well," one began, "it looks like she doesn't exist. Her surname wasn't on any database. We have tried to search the security cameras. But, we have no record of her anywhere."

"Find her."

---

"You were shot?" Her best friend asked.

"No! Were you listening at all, Cara?" Emilia asked, pouring them both another drink.

"I was Emmie. But like, seriously. You could have died." Cara lay back on the couch.

"It was over so quick. Well, long enough to make mum angry at me. But it wasn't that bad." Emilia sat down on the couch. "You're blowing this way out if proportion."

"You didn't tell your mum any of this?" Emilia shook her head, as Cara continued. "You do know you totally pissed off one of Marlano's men, right? That's not good."

Emilia cocked her head. "Who?"

"Marlano. Where have you been to not hear of them? They're the gang that terrorises the east side. They usually rough up their hostages. You're so lucky."

Emilia sighed. "Well yes. I'm also lucky that store assistant added some extra gifts to give to mum. It sweetened the anger of me being late to her big day."

Cara took a swig of her drink. "Emmie. You're not taking this seriously. These men are dangerous. People avoid their hangout by avoiding that whole side of the city. They can find you."

Emilia laughed. "You have such a vivid imagination Cara! I gave the coppers mum's surname. I didn't really do anything to annoy them. And I'll be out of the country soon anyway."

Cara suddenly hugged her tight. "I will miss you bestie. Do you really have to go? Like really really?" She looked to Emilia with puppy-dog eyes. "Just stay safe. Promise."

Emilia smiled, hugging her back. "Promise. Now, let's finish this terrible tequila!"

---

Emilia:



Cara: