Beauty and the Brawns

Chapter 1

---

It was a quiet, chilly night, with a fog creeping in and swallowing the dim streetlights. A young woman, no more than 20, hurried along the sidewalk together with her baggage. Her coat was pulled tight around her, and her eyes darted nervously to the shadows. She kept her head down, hoping to blend into the darkness, but her anxious demeanor betrayed her. Every step seemed to echo loudly, bouncing off the cracked brick walls of the empty buildings surrounding her.

She wasn't familiar with these streets—she had just arrived in the country, taking up a job as a maid for a wealthy family in the city. It was supposed to be a fresh start, a chance to send money back home. But tonight, after missing her bus stop, she ended up in a part of town she didn't recognize. The streets were narrow, the alleys even more so, and everything was bathed in a dim, eerie glow. Her phone, nearly out of battery, was the only source of light and direction she had. Every time she glanced at it, she saw the red bar slowly draining away, and panic clawed at her chest.

"Just find the main road," she muttered to herself in her native language, trying to stay calm. "It can't be far."

But the more she walked, the darker and more twisted the streets became. Litter scattered across the ground, and she caught glimpses of figures lingering in doorways, watching her with hungry eyes. She knew she didn't belong here. Her clothes, her posture—everything about her screamed that she was lost, vulnerable, an outsider.

After what felt like an eternity of wandering, she checked her phone one last time, praying that she was headed in the right direction. The screen flickered, and her map froze, leaving her staring at the little blinking dot that marked her location. "No, no, no..." she whispered, tapping the screen frantically, but it was no use. The battery died, and she was plunged into darkness.

Swallowing hard, she tried to remember the directions she'd seen before the screen went black. "Left," she murmured to herself. "It was left and then straight..." She took a deep breath and stepped forward, turning into a narrow alley, hoping it would cut through to a more familiar street. The alley was damp, the air thick with the smell of rot and something she couldn't quite place. She could feel the moisture seeping into her shoes with every step.

And that's when she saw them.

Two men stood at the far end of the alley, shrouded in shadows but unmistakably watching her. One was tall and wiry, with a greasy ponytail hanging down his back. The other was broader, stocky, with a scar running from his temple to his jaw. Both had that look in their eyes—the look of predators who had just spotted their prey.

Panic surged through her, and she forced herself to keep walking, pretending not to notice them. "Don't panic. Don't draw attention," she thought desperately. But it was too late. They had already started moving toward her, their footsteps heavy and deliberate.

"Hey, meisje," the taller one called, his voice dripping with mockery. "You look lost. Need some help?"

Her heart raced, pounding so loudly she thought they might hear it. Summoning every ounce of courage, she spoke up, her voice trembling. "I... I'm looking for Cherry Lane. Do you know where it is?"

The men exchanged a look and then grinned. The shorter one chuckled. "Cherry Lane, huh? Yeah, it's right this way. Why don't you come with us?"

"No, it's fine," she stammered, stepping back. "I'll just find it myself."

"Ben je kwijt, schat?" the shorter one asked, his Dutch accent thick. "Are you lost, sweetheart?"

She took another step back, feeling the cold wall of the alley pressing against her spine. They could see the fear in her eyes, the way her hands shook as she fumbled with her bag.

"Kom... come with us," the taller one said, slipping into Dutch again. "Ja, kom met ons, schatje."

The glint of a pocket knife flashed in the dim light as he pulled it from his jeans. Adrenaline surged through her, and without thinking, she swung her purse as hard as she could, smacking him across the face. He staggered, cursing, and she took her chance. She bolted down the alley, her breath ragged, her heart pounding in her ears.

"SLET!" they yelled, and she could hear their footsteps thundering after her.

She sprinted, but the alley seemed endless. Panic clouded her thoughts, and she skidded to a halt at the dead end. Spinning around, she watched as they closed in, their faces twisted with rage and amusement.

"Looks like you're out of luck tonight," the taller one sneered, rubbing his cheek where her purse had struck him.

"Please... please just leave me alone," she begged, but they weren't listening. She reached into her bag, fingers trembling, and pulled out a taser, holding it out like a shield. "Stay back! I mean it!"

Her voice cracked, and she screamed, "HELP! SOMEBODY!"

The taller thug lunged, but she jabbed the taser into his side, and he fell back with a howl. The other man, however, was quicker. He struck her hard across the face, and she crumpled to the ground, the taser slipping from her grasp. Her vision blurred, and she tasted blood in her mouth.

"Kijk nou wat je me liet doen," the thug said, laughing down at her, "Look what you made me do."

Suddenly, a dark shadow loomed behind them. Before either man could react, the figure struck. The taller thug dropped to the ground, clutching his groin in agony. The stocky man turned, drawing his knife, but the shadow moved like lightning, slamming a fist into his face. Blood spurted from his nose, and he stumbled back, dropping the blade.

"Who the hell are you?!" the thug spat, but his voice wavered.

The figure didn't answer. With one last threatening step, he sent the man running, clutching his bleeding nose.

The alley fell silent. The young woman lay on the cold, damp ground, struggling to stay conscious. Her head spun, and everything around her felt distant, muffled, like she was underwater. The shadowy figure knelt beside her.

"Are you okay?"the figure asked, it's voice soft, but she could barely hear it. Everything was fading, her vision narrowing to a pinpoint of light as he reached out to touch her shoulder.