Hurricanes

I. Aim On Danger

A sharp jolt of pain grazes her side—not at all struggling within the tight confines of this alleyway. In hindsight, she should've brought her collapsible bow anywhere, if this situation ever comes up in passing. 

But alas, Kate wasn't a master in foresight.

And the near stab to the cheek was not making this all better.

Kate took advantage of her height, clicking her tongue angrily as she pushed the guy against the wall, trapping his throat against her left forearm before slamming his hand a little too hard against the concrete wall, making him let go of the knife with a clatter on the concrete floor. Kate had accidentally punched the wall above his hand with her knuckles a little too hard.

"You know, you could be anything in this world. But harassing someone in an alleyway?" Kate grunted as he struggled. Kate pushed him using a knee to his stomach, hard. "You won't see daylight if you keep that up."

It was an empty threat. 

Kate knows it is, but the blatant fear in the ugly man's eyes was clear as a day.

She blinks before something else sinks into her already alert and weary mind. A shaky nod is the only response. Kate lets him go after a few seconds, slapping his back hard as he staggered out of the alleyway, running. Bastard.

"Thank you so much!" A soft shaky voice has Kate turning around and facing the young woman the guy has harassed earlier before.

She looked a little disheveled, probably from trying to fight for her bag from the guy who tried to take it. She was wearing a white sleeveless dress that fell just above her knees, matched with pink flip flops and her khaki handbag.

"Are you okay?" Kate put a reluctant hand on the woman's bare shoulder, lest she was sensitive to touch. It doesn't seem so, and even gave Kate a hug that nearly knocked the wind out of her.

Hugs. She can do that. Woo.

"Yes, thank you!" The young woman pulled back, looking as though color has seeped back into her face. Kate felt the fulfilled feeling of seeing the gratefulness on her face.

"Did he do anything else?"

She shook her head. "No. He did try to slap me but I evaded it before you came in to help, his main target was the bag. I wouldn't know what to do had you not stepped in."

"Don't worry, he won't be harassing anyone again." Kate sighed in relief, her hand still on her shoulder, and the other on her hips. "Just be careful next time, okay? Maybe purchase some nunchucks or something."

"I will." The woman chuckled, thanking her once again and rummaging through her bag. On her hand was a plastic bag of cookies. "Take this, it's the least I could do for saving me."

"Oh! You don't have to—"

"Oh I insist." The woman all but dumped at plastic bag of cookies that contained at least two containers inside.

"But it's too much..." Kate responded weakly, suddenly feeling awkward. 

"Don't worry about it, girl." The woman shook her head, already walking away. "I have a lot of these at home. Bye, and Thank you!"

Standing awkwardly in the alleyway, and staring at the bag of cookies, Kate didn't hesitate to leave and run for work. She was getting late after all. Given the time of the night, there was bound to be a lot of people tonight.

The diner was located just a few blocks down on the corner of the street. She pushed glass doors a little too fast, nearly slipping on the tile floor from the lack of friction from her shoes.