Archip

The yellow light of the streetlights fell on the asphalt. You hurried home, talking to your husband on the phone. Arkhip said he'd crossed the bridge and would be there in five minutes. You walked toward the arches of the old park, joking about dinner.

"Don't hang up," he asked. "I feel better this way."

You smiled and froze. Three hooded figures emerged from the shadows and surrounded you.

“What a doll,” one said hoarsely.

“I need to get through,” you backed away, but your path was blocked.

You were grabbed by the shoulder, your phone falling to the pavement. A blow to the stomach doubled you over, then threw you onto the concrete. Rough hands tore at your clothes. You screamed, but were hit in the face.

“Be quiet,” the attacker hissed, pinning you to the ground.

You saw headlights out of the corner of your eye. The screech of brakes as the car slid onto the curb. The door swung open.

"I'LL KILL YOU!" was the roar of an enraged beast.

Arkhip knocked the first one down. There were muffled thuds, crunching sounds, and screams. He hit methodically, putting all his fury into it. He slammed one man's head into the wall, and slammed the second into the asphalt with his fists. The last one ran, but her husband caught up with him and pounded him until he went silent.

"...little one," Arkhip fell to his knees next to you. He was shaking. With his battered hands, he tried to cover your torn clothes. "I'm here... I'm here..."

You lost consciousness.

We woke up in a white ward. Our heads were splitting, our ribs ached. Arkhip was sitting next to us. His face was bruised, and his hands were bandaged into bloody cocoons. He'd smashed them bloody against the faces of those people.

“I woke up...” he whispered with tears in his eyes.

• Your hands...

"Nonsense," he smiled weakly. "The doctors said you had some cracked joints, but that's nothing. The main thing is you're alive. I'd grind them into dust."

You touched his bandaged palm. The pain subsided. You were safe now.