Sigmund Deaves: Timepiece

Chapter 7: Downtown New York

Elsewhere, Jessica Ozark wasn't having nearly as much fun as Sigmund was. Unlike her bespectacled counterpart, she had changed out of her school uniform and was now walking home from an extracurricular. Instead of the formal suit, tie, and shoes Jess opted for a much more casual gray hoodie and faded jeans. Her long hair was stuffed down the back of her hoodie; much of her hair still clumped together as a result of it recently being held together by a cheap scrunchy. Over Jess's worn hoodie was a navy blue zip-up case in which she held her dull saber and protective equipment. From experience she knew to keep the saber within reach at all times, the streets she'd be walking through weren't the safest. Why do I do this again? Couldn't I just get a ride from someone? Oh, that's right, they're always "busy" with something.

Next to Jess was some dude. Literally. At no point during their very brief relationship where they'd walk side by side in complete silence until their paths diverged did she make an attempt to broach the subject of names. Christ, I'm using this guy as a quasi-bodyguard and yet I'm better acquainted with the CCP's henchman than with him. Jess was pretty sure he didn't want to talk to her because of that one time she had thoroughly defeated him in a match. Granted, he was big but he had the finesse of an ape. Someone like him should be in wrestling or something. Why did he choose fencing of all thing?

Eventually, the dude took a left at a crosswalk without a word. At this point Jess raised her hood over her head and pulled the strings taut. Simply out of habit, she lowered the sword case to a position where she could get to the saber inside more easily. Jess had walked from her fencing class to her family's apartment dozens of times, yet the process still kept her on edge. It was unbelievably annoying how simply using these streets as transit was dangerous, but using them while female was a war zone. Things like this are everywhere and many people don't even notice. She mentally went through the process of unsheathing her saber; it probably wouldn't take very long. However, if someone managed to sneak up on her she wouldn't have time to use her sword. Stop thinking about it; you'll be fine just like every other time.

Unfortunately, whenever she walked between her house and the fencing dojo she'd have to cross between main roads through a side road that no one ever used. The distance between buildings made it seem like an alleyway with the addition of a poorly kept street. Every time Jess passed through this alley, she peeked into the alley just to make sure there was no one in wait. After an amount of scanning that would be passable in the army, she quickly strutted through with her arm inches from her saber.

Without warning, a firm hand grabbed her shoulder. It didn't seem possible to Jess that someone could sneak up on her without so much as a foot step. Gears in her mind turned rapidly as she assessed the situation. There's no time to grab my saber; he'd just stop me before I got to it. He's probably about six inches taller than me based on the angle of his hand. Based on his breathing it would be safe to assume that he was lying in wait. Best not to draw too much attention in case of flunkies. Jess quickly decided on a course of action. With a savage elbow straight backward she struck her aggressor somewhere in the midsection. Caught completely off guard, the faceless man gasped for air. Half a second after striking the man in the stomach, Jess grabbed his arm and used it to lay him flat on his back.

Jess didn't glance back as she took off in the direction of home at a full sprint. Don't look back, just look forward. Run all the way home, you'll be able to think when you get back home.