Under The Bright Lights

Chapter -1

Alexandra Freeman ^^

    The chilly September breeze could be felt at every corner of Hope, Arkansas. So much so that the people had to wear cardigans and jackets whenever they come outside. The sun shined down brightly but even it wasn't enough to bring enough warmth to the people.

One particularly chilly day, a girl walked down the almost crowded sidewalk, hands full of grocery bags. She took quick and hasty steps down the sidewalk because you never know when a gun could be pointed at your head in this town. Trouble lurks at every corner so it's better to just avoid it. She took a sharp turn down a quiet neighborhood. Almost like the neighborhood had been deserted for years, only just a few people came out of their houses. Either to water their plants, feed their pets or just sit on a wooden chair to take some fresh air. She walked down the sidewalk, smiling softly to those who looked her way.

Just as she was about to take another turn that would've led to her house, she heard a shrill scream. The girl turned around so fast, she should've gotten whiplash. The scream came from an elderly woman, not older than 60. Her hands filled with grocery bags just like hers. Three men surrounded the woman as they tried to snatch the bags away from her. The woman was struggling but she was slowly getting weak and tired. The man to her right grabbed her hand in a bone crushing grip and pushed her to the ground harshly. The woman yelled out in agony as her dull grey eyes started to water.

The young girl looked around for any help but the people merely glanced at the scene and looked away. Some even went back into their houses. Nobody wanted trouble. The girl looked back at the scene as she saw the men laughing as they looked through the contents of the grocery bags. All right, that's it. The girl dropped her own grocery bags on the ground and rushed towards the scene.

She first tried to pull the elderly woman away from the men but one of them grabbed her -the girl's- arm roughly before pulling her back to her feet. The man looked her with wide beady eyes and smirked at her giving her a glimpse of his yellowish teeth. He was definitely a smoker. This man didn't look a day over 30 and his 'friends' seemed to be around his age range. He was tall, towering over her 5'8 frame. But she didn't give a shit.

"Hey man, what's your problem! You outta your mind or something?" She seethed, as she yanked her arm out of his tight grip. For a split second, the man's dark eyebrows rose up in surprise. Surprise that a little girl, not a day older than 22, would ever have the balls to talk back to him. Does she know who the hell he is?

"This don't concern you toots, so stay out of it." The man pushed her back harshly, making her stumble back a few steps. The man and his friends started laughing again as they pointed to the girl in mockery. At that very moment, she felt a burning anger start to rise. Adrenaline coursed through her veins. Her eyes narrowed into a death glare, as her breaths turned heavy. Oh no he didn't.

Before the man could even register what the hell was about to happen, the girl balled her hand into a tight fist and drove a punch squarely at the man's nose. The man let out a grunt as he fell to the ground, holding his already bloody nose. A few gasps were heard but the girl ignored it. She was going to teach these bastards a lesson today.

"Shit, Daniel!" One of the other two men yelled. His gaze removed from his bloody friend and locked on the girl. His brown eyes darkened, his hands clenched into fists and his jaw tightened. He was furious. But the girl stood her ground. The man stalked towards her but immediately her got within a foot in front of her, she kicked him in the gut and immediately followed it up with a Roundhouse Kick. The man fell to the ground, groaning in pain.

"Anyone else?" The girl gritted, as she looked directly at the third man. The man's face held a smirk, as he looked her with fiery emerald green eyes. He's an overconfident one. He also started to slowly stalk towards her but a hand stopped him. She looked down to see the man she had punched in the nose slowly start to get back to his feet. He still held onto his bloody nose, but the bleeding had started to slow down a little.