Our three security guards were spread around outside the shop as my mom had instructed. It had always been important for her, that despite the luxury and high profile of our lives, we would grow up as normal as possible. That’s why we didn’t have a nanny either.
Usually one of our guards were close enough to jump in when strangers started talking to us, shooing them away, when my Mom wasn’t reacting fast enough. I guess they knew that, because when I saw a woman approaching us from behind Kahl’s back, I wasn’t afraid, expecting one of the guards to jump in if need be.
But the woman didn’t slow down, or start to speak. She grabbed Kahl from behind, pulling him off the ground as he stared at me with big eyes.
“Karissa!”
I still remember my guards yell as if it was yesterday, and my body still knows the drill: head down, run, hide. If your guard’s not in sight, hide somewhere grown-ups can’t get to.
And I bolted.
My brother’s scream in my ears, I ran past him and the woman, who was trying to grab me, because I was about to escape the person who was meant to catch me, ripping out some strains of hair in her effort.
I fled from the shop, straight on to where I knew Anya was. My bodyguard. She always waited across the entrance of the places we were in, when my Mom ordered them to stay away.
My heart had jumped into my throat. I could barely breathe, or swallow, or understand what was happening. I ran straight into the woman who had protected me ever since I had a memory. She was the reason why I always painted angels with ebony skin, black wavy hair in a bun and golden wings.
That was when I heard my brother scream in terror.
“Moooooooooooooooom!”
I never saw my brother again.