City of Kinetics

ONE ✴ Late Nights in Downtown

       "Hey, get a job you mutant freak!"

       Mila frowned and turned her head towards the source of the insult, her eyes landing on a man with a greying beard and dark eyes glaring harshly at homeless man trying to start a fire in a trash bin across the street.

       The homeless man snapped his head towards him and scowled, not bothering with a response. Instead, he turned his attention back to the trashcan, snapping his fingers as sparks flew from his skin. Eventually, he got the fire started, but not before getting hurled with more insults as the man angrily walked by.

       Mila pulled her coat tighter around her body as a cool breeze whipped past her. It was a cold night in Nexus City, and even though it was past ten o'clock, the streets of downtown were almost empty. She kept her head down as she walked, keeping a quick pace so she could quickly get back to her apartment and escape the cold.

       Her shift at Sweetie's, a small café and bakery, was long and tedious. It wasn't a busy day, but being a waitress, Mila had been on her feet for more than seven hours. She sighed at the thought, feeling her feet ache with every step she took.

       Pulling out her phone quickly, she checked the time.

       10:27 PM

       Her shift was supposed to end at ten, but a customer decided to give her a hard time, ordering more than necessary about five minutes before closing. It took everything in her power to keep a smile on her face as she served him even when her shift was technically over.

       To make it worse, she had an early morning shift the next day before her night job. Despite her terrible hours, Mila reminded herself that this was the only way she could keep her rent. She didn't want to become homeless like the man she just saw.

       Stuffing her hands in her pockets, she stopped at a crosswalk and patiently waited until the light turned red. Tapping her foot against the concrete, she looked around, taking in the serene night air of downtown.

       Beside her, a dark alleyway stretched between two stores, and she noticed movement from the corner of her eye. Turning her head, Mila noticed a group of men smoking in the alleyway, laughing amongst themselves without a care in the world.

       Before she could look away, one of them caught her eye. Mila quickly averted her gaze, focusing on the crosswalk light that still flashed a red hand. Laughter filled her ears again and she bit her lip, keeping her gaze elsewhere as she waited.

       She needed to mind her own business and keep to herself, something she was used to doing. Instead, she distracted herself by looking at the passing cars.

       "Hey!" a voice suddenly called.

       Mila frowned, keeping her gaze on the crosswalk keeping her in her place as more cars drove past her.

       "Hey, sweetheart! I'm talking to you!"

        Her heart started pounding a little faster as she reluctantly returned her gaze to the alleyway. The man she had made eye contact with was walking over to her, cigarette in hand and his three friends in tow. They were all smiling, but Mila knew better than to fall for that.

       "Hey!" the man said again, much closer this time as Mila turned away, determined to ignore them.

       She gasped when he suddenly grabbed her arm. She immediately wrenched it away, taking a step back with wide eyes as he looked at her with amusement.