She's A Badass (#Wattys2024)

18.

I stepped out of the shower, the steam curling around me like a misty veil. I wrapped a towel around myself, glancing at the mirror where my reflection stared back with determined eyes. The weight of my decision was heavy, but it also felt right. Tonight, I wasn't just Britney; I was Night Vixen.

I dried off quickly and moved to my bed, where the sleek, black suit, mask, and glove lay waiting. It was my second skin, a symbol of the protector I was becoming. As I slipped into it, the fabric hugged my body, making me feel powerful and ready. I laced up the leather boots, their familiar weight grounding me in the reality of what I was about to do.

Pulling a robe over the suit, I quietly crept down the hallway. my parents' soft snores drifted from their bedroom, a sign that they were deep in sleep. I hesitated for a brief moment at their door, listening to the comforting sound. Then, with a deep breath, I made my way outside.

The cool night air greeted me as I stepped into the alley behind my house. The streets of Brooklyn were eerily quiet, the silence only broken by the distant hum of traffic and the occasional bark of a dog. I leaned against the brick wall, my eyes scanning the shadows for any sign of trouble. This was my city, and I was ready to defend it.

Minutes passed, and I was beginning to think it might be a quiet night. But then, I heard it-a soft, panicked voice. I tensed, my senses sharpening as peered down the alley. A young woman was walking briskly, glancing over her shoulder every few steps. Behind her, a car slowly trailed, its headlights dim, almost predatory.

my heart pounded as I watched the car creep closer to the girl. The woman quickened her pace, but the car matched her speed, edging nearer and nearer. Without a second thought, I pulled up my hood and dropped the robe, letting the Night Vixen persona take over. I moved swiftly, my footsteps silent on the pavement.

As the car drew alongside the woman, one of the men inside called out to her, his voice dripping with malice. The girl froze, fear flashing in her eyes. My hands balled into fists. I was not going to let this happen.

"Hey!" I shouted, stepping into the light.

The men's heads snapped toward me, surprised by my sudden appearance. The driver sneered, stepping out of the car. "What do we have here? You want to join the party?"

I didn't answer. I moved quickly, my fist connecting with the man's jaw before he had a chance to react. He staggered back, clutching his face, while his buddies piled out of the car, cursing and yelling.

One of them swung at me, but I ducked, delivering a swift kick to his knee turning it inside out. He crumpled to the ground, howling in pain. Another man rushed at me, but I sidestepped him with ease, grabbing the girl's iron water bottle from her trembling hand and using it as a weapon. I smashed it against the side of the attacker's head, the metal ringing with a satisfying clang as he stumbled back, dazed.

The last two men hesitated, glancing at each other as if realizing they'd bitten off more than they could chew. I didn't give them a chance to recover. I was on them in an instant, delivering a series of quick, precise blows that left them gasping for air and writhing on the ground.

Within minutes, the fight was over. The men lay scattered around the alley, groaning in pain, some clutching broken noses, others nursing bruised ribs. I stood over them, my chest heaving, adrenaline pumping through my veins. I wasn't just satisfied; I was proud. These men had been looking for easy prey, but they'd found something far more dangerous.

The girl, who had been watching in stunned silence, finally spoke, her voice trembling. "Th-thank you. I don't know what would've happened if you hadn't shown up."

I turned to her, offering a small, reassuring smile. "Just bring a taser or pepper spray next time, okay?"

The girl nodded, tears welling up in her eyes as she hurried away, casting one last grateful glance at me before disappearing into the night.