The city buzzed most at night and Tyla Gommez loved it here, in the heart of the city, where everything felt alive and moving. It was her way of escaping campus walls and lectures.
She strolled along the pavement, her earphones tucked in, her gaze fixed on her phone as she scrolled through her feed. A funny video had her grinning, and she slowed her steps without realizing she was drifting dangerously close to the edge of the walkway.
She didn't see him coming.
A masked figure darted out of the shadows, swift as a gust of wind. One sharp tug—and her bag was gone from her shoulder.
Tyla froze, her body trembling before her brain even caught up. The sudden emptiness at her side felt like a punch. "H-hey!" she stammered, her voice breaking, before it rose into a panicked scream. "Help! Somebody, please!"
