The fluorescent lights of the mall flickered as Ryan adjusted his hoodie and walked past the toy store. Just then, a muffled argument made him stop. A man gripped a young woman’s wrist too tightly. Her face was pale, her eyes darting around like a caged animal.
“Stop it,” she whispered, barely audible.
The man yanked her closer. “You listen to me, kitten. You do what I say.”
Ryan felt his pulse quicken. He knew he shouldn’t interfere—but something in her terrified expression forced him forward.
“Hey! Leave her alone.”
The man snapped his head toward Ryan, his dark eyes filled with menace. “Mind your own business, hero.”
Before Ryan could react, a hard shove slammed him into a nearby wall. The girl flinched, her breath shallow. The man sneered, glancing at her. “Take his stuff.”
She shook her head. “He has nothing.”
“Do it.”
Ryan steadied himself and locked eyes with her. Then, he smirked. “You forgot to check my jacket.”
Her hand trembled as she reached for his pocket. Ryan leaned in and whispered, “Go ahead.”
Her fingers brushed against something—a folded note. She glanced at it, confused, but pocketed it. The man snatched her hand, dragging her away. Ryan’s heart pounded as he watched them disappear around the corner.
Later that night, Ryan found himself back in the toy store. He hid between shelves lined with stuffed animals, his mind racing. A rustle behind him made him freeze.
“Kitten?”
The girl emerged from behind a display, clutching the note. “You wrote this?”
Ryan nodded. "If you need help, meet me here. I’ll hide you."
She hesitated. “Where?”
Ryan grinned. “A castle.” He gestured toward a massive princess playhouse in the store’s corner.
“You’re joking.”
“Get in. I’ll handle the employees.”
She bit her lip but climbed inside. The fabric rustled as she curled up inside the tiny space. Ryan stood guard.
Moments later, a booming voice echoed. “Where is she?!”
Ryan turned to see the man from earlier, storming into the store.
“She’s mine!” he growled.
A security guard appeared. “Is there a problem, sir?”
Ryan squared his shoulders. “Just a lost customer.”
The man’s eyes darkened, but he forced a grin. “Right. I’ll come back tomorrow.”
When he left, the girl peeked out. “I’m safe?”
Ryan exhaled. “For now.”
Tears welled in her eyes. “He’s not my boyfriend. He’s my… father.”
Ryan froze. Father?
She wiped her face. “He made me steal. Took my childhood away.”
Ryan swallowed hard. “I didn’t have a childhood either.”
Their eyes met. In that moment, they understood each other.
A sudden crash shattered the moment.
A masked figure loomed over them. “If you make a sound, he’ll regret it.”
The girl paled. “Dad?”
“Take the money from the register,” he hissed.
She turned to Ryan, trembling. “I won’t.”
Her father scoffed. “Then he pays.”
Ryan tensed. “No. You leave alone.”
Alarms blared. Security rushed in. The man bolted.
Tears streamed down her face. “He’s gone. But… he’ll find me.”
Ryan grabbed her hand. “No. He won’t.”
She looked up. “Why?”
He pointed at the toy castle. “Because I have a real one. A safe place. No one will hurt you there.”
She hesitated. “Really?”
Ryan smiled. “Sometimes life steals your childhood. But love? It gives you a future.”
As they stepped under a holiday decoration, Ryan whispered, “Mistletoe.”
She smiled. “Another tradition?”
Ryan grinned. “I’ll show you.”
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