The evening sky was a canvas of deep oranges and purples, the kind of sunset that would have taken anyone's breath away, if not for the cracks in the city that mirrored the growing cracks in their lives. Twelve-year-old Daniel Pérez walked quietly beside his mother, Carolina, his little sister, Lucía, skipping along just ahead. Despite the beauty above, the streets below were in ruin. Once, their neighbourhood had been a thriving part of the city. It was where families gathered for summer barbecues, and where kids played in the park late into the evening, their laughter filling the air. Now, it was a shadow of its former self. The street lights flickered, many of them broken, and the sidewalks were littered with debris. Graffiti covered nearly every building, telling stories of gangs and their territorial wars. Every few minutes, a distant siren would wail, a haunting reminder of the ever-present danger that lurked in the city's decaying heart.

But to Daniel, this was still home.

He wasn't blind to the violence around him. He knew the risks, understood the unspoken rules of living here. Stay out of trouble. Keep your head down. Look after your family. He had heard Carolina repeat these words time and time again. But she always made sure to protect him from the worst of it. Daniel could see the weariness in her eyes as they

approached the small convenience store at the corner, but she smiled down at him like she always did. "It's just a quick stop, Danny," she said, her voice warm despite the chill in the air. "We'll be home in no time."

Lucía, always restless, rushed ahead, her ponytail bouncing behind her. "I want a chocolate bar, Mama!" she shouted, her voice full of the unshakable innocence of an eight-year-old. Carolina chuckled softly.

Daniel pushed the door open for his mother, the bell above the door chiming softly as they stepped inside. The store was small, one of the few that still operated in the neighbourhood. Shelves lined with everyday items, dusty and neglected. It wasn't much, but it was enough. Daniel watched as Carolina led Lucía to the counter, her hand gently resting on her daughter's shoulder. He, on the other hand, made his way to the candy aisle, knowing he'd find something to satisfy his sweet tooth.

That's when it happened.

The door slammed open behind him, the bell's cheerful chime swallowed by the rush of cold air. In an instant, the atmosphere shifted. Daniel turned just in time to see them-four young men, their faces obscured by ski masks, storming into the store like a force of nature. They moved with brutal precision, their guns gleaming under the fluorescent lights. The lead man's voice was rough, his words harsh as they echoed through the small space.

"Get on the ground! Now!"

Daniel's heart raced, his body frozen in place. His mind screamed at him to move, but his legs refused to cooperate. He watched helplessly as Carolina instinctively pulled Lucía close, shielding her with her body. Carolina's eyes were wide with fear, but her expression remained calm. She had faced danger before she knew how to keep her children safe.

The store's owner, Mr. Patel, an older man who had run the shop for as long as Daniel could remember, stood behind the counter, his hands trembling. One of the robbers, the tallest of the group, pointed his gun directly at Mr. Patel's chest, his voice dripping with menace. "Give me the cash! Now!"

Mr. Patel fumbled with the register, his hands shaking so badly that the bills slipped from his grasp. The robber grew impatient, slamming the butt of his gun against the counter. "Hurry up, old man!"

Everything was happening too fast. Daniel's mind whirled as he struggled to comprehend the chaos unfolding around him. His gaze darted between his mother and the robbers, between Lucía's terrified face and the gun pointed at Mr. Patel. And then he saw it-Mr. Patel's hand reaching under the counter, his fingers brushing against something hidden. Daniel's stomach lurched.

"No," Daniel whispered, but it was too late.

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The tall robber spotted Mr. Patel's movement, his eyes narrowing in suspicion. "What are you doing?" he growled, stepping closer to the counter. "Don't even think about it."

But Mr. Patel, whether out of fear or desperation, ignored the warning. His hand gripped something beneath the counter-a shotgun. For a brief moment, there was silence, a stillness that seemed to stretch out for an eternity. Daniel's heart pounded in his chest as he watched, powerless to stop what was coming.

The sound of the shotgun blast shattered the silence, a deafening roar that reverberated through the store. Time seemed to slow as the room was filled with smoke, the acrid smell of

gunpowder thick in the air. Daniel saw the flash of the gun, the way Mr. Patel's body jerked back with the impact, and then-Carolina.

She collapsed to the floor, her body crumpling in on itself as blood spread across her chest, staining her shirt a dark, sickening red. Daniel's world tilted, the floor slipping out from under him. His mother-the woman who had always been his rock, his protector-was lying there, gasping for breath, her eyes wide with shock.

"No!" Daniel's scream ripped through the chaos, his feet finally moving as he stumbled toward her. But the distance between them felt like a mile. His vision blurred with tears, his breaths coming in ragged, panicked gasps.

Carolina's eyes locked on his as he reached her, her hand trembling as she reached out to him. "Danny..." Her voice was weak, barely a whisper, but he heard it as clearly as if she had shouted it. He dropped to his knees beside her, his hands shaking as he pressed them against the wound in her chest, trying in vain to stop the bleeding.

"Don't... don't leave me, Mama,” Daniel choked out, his tears falling freely now. His hands were slick with her blood, warm and sticky, and he could feel her slipping away.

Carolina's lips trembled as she forced the words out. "Take care of your sister... take care of your family..."

Her breath hitched, and then-nothing. Her hand fell limply to the floor, her eyes still fixed on Daniel, but there was no life left in them. She was gone.

Daniel's scream was a raw, guttural sound, filled with the kind of pain that could tear a soul apart. He cradled his mother's lifeless body, rocking back and forth as the world around him

descended into madness. The robbers, startled by the sudden violence, bolted from the store, their footsteps echoing in the distance. But Daniel didn't notice. All he could see was Carolina's face, all he could feel was the crushing weight of her death pressing down on him. He was vaguely aware of Lucía sobbing beside him, her tiny hands gripping his arm, but he couldn't tear his gaze away from his mother.

It wasn't supposed to be like this.

They had come for milk and bread, just another ordinary evening in a world that had been anything but ordinary for so long. But now, nothing would ever be the same again. Daniel's life, Lucía's life- everything had changed in the span of a few minutes. The streets had taken their mother, just like they took so many others, and they had done it without mercy.

The sirens came next, louder and closer than before. Red and blue lights flashed through the windows as police cars skidded to a halt outside the store. Officers poured in, their voices sharp and commanding, but Daniel couldn't hear them. His world had narrowed to a single point of focus - Carolina's still body in his arms.

A paramedic knelt beside him, gently trying to pry his hands away from her, but Daniel refused to let go. "She's gone," the paramedic said softly, but Daniel shook his head, his voice broken.

"No... no, she's not..."

But deep down, he knew. His mother was gone. And nothing he did, nothing he said, could bring her back.

Lucía's cries grew louder as an officer lifted her into his arms, trying to comfort her. She reached out for Daniel, her face streaked with tears. "Danny... Danny, please..." Her voice was so small, so full of fear, and it tore at his heart.

Daniel forced himself to stand, his legs weak and unsteady. He stumbled over to Lucía and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. She clung to him like a lifeline, her sobs muffled against his chest. "It's okay, Lucía," he whispered, even though he knew it wasn't. "I'm here. I've got you."

But as he held her, Daniel felt something harden inside him. A cold, unrelenting rage that bubbled up from the depths of his soul. The streets had taken his mother, had stolen the one person who had kept their family together through everything. And now, they were all that was left.

He wasn't going to let them take anything else.

As the paramedics loaded Carolina's body onto a stretcher and the police swarmed the store, Daniel stood there, his arms around Lucía, his heart a storm of grief and fury. He looked up at the darkening sky, the once-beautiful sunset now tainted by the night creeping in.

The streets had taken their mother. But they hadn't taken him.

Not yet.