Chapter 6: Unwanted Attention
Franz followed the group toward the medical station, Maya still perched on his shoulders, her small hands gripping his head for balance. The little girl had long since stopped crying, now more fascinated with the view from above.
"You’re like a really big horse, mister!" she giggled.
Franz exhaled through his nose. "I’m not a horse."
"He’s definitely built like one," Celeste muttered under her breath.
Zane, walking a step ahead, clenched his fists. His chance to be the hero had slipped away so effortlessly that it made his stomach churn. He should’ve been the one catching the robber. He should’ve been the one getting praised. Instead, it was this guy—this ridiculously built, hooded stranger—who walked away with all the attention. It was almost absurd.
Zane had always been the one who managed to talk his way out of trouble, to spin any situation in his favor. Ever since childhood, he had this way of making things work, of drawing people to him. His luck had never truly failed him. But this time, it had.
Who even is this guy?
The group arrived at the small medical booth inside the mall. A staff member took one look at Franz’s bleeding hand and rushed to grab supplies. Lena sat down beside him, eyes filled with concern.
"Seriously, you caught a knife with your bare hand?"