[This feels wrong in so many ways—keeping these boys locked to them by the collars of their shirts, like she's grabbing a naughty cat by the scruff of its neck and carrying it away. This really should be handled by the authorities, and she was hoping someone would be along by now to help, but the streets are empty.

Well, these streets, in particular.]

Saw some stalls back down the road. We could try asking there. It's public enough that they won't try anything, either.