Chapter 9
"Ah, no! Stop!"
Koi shouted desperately, his head spinning. He had to stop them somehow, had to get them out of the store. But Nelson’s gang kept holding him back, preventing him from moving even a single step.
"I said stop! Get out! Leave everything and go!"
"You little shit."
One of the guys holding Koi suddenly grabbed his collar.
"Wait. Let him go."
Nelson’s voice cut through the commotion. The guy holding Koi hesitated for a moment before reluctantly letting go. The sudden shove made Koi stagger, nearly falling before he managed to catch himself awkwardly.
Nelson stepped toward him.
"Hey, what did you just say?"
With each step, Nelson seemed to grow bigger. Koi instinctively backed away. The other guys were still laughing, still ransacking the store—one of them stuffing his mouth with stolen snacks, another helping himself to a slushy. Koi should have stopped them, should have done something.
But all he could see right now was Nelson.
"What did you say, huh?"