A Day in the City

Chapter 4

Naomi strode along the sidewalk of a quieter street, one far away from the cacophony of downtown and closer to the suburbs of echoing footsteps. Crimson skies draped overhead, leaving Naomi with the thought of returning home for the day. The city had given her plenty to see and do. All of the sights, sounds, and passing conversations she indulged in...perhaps that was enough for the day.

Besides, Naomi thought, Alice must be home by now.

"Listen, don't make this big. Don't scream, okay? I just need some money."

The faint echo of a rough voice escaped from an alleyway just a few feet away. Although barely audible, it was enough to bring Naomi to a halt.

"Oh god, oh shit, p-please don't hurt me..." whimpered another voice. Its uneasy, shaky tone alarmed Naomi, who now stepped towards the alley's entrance cautiously. Stopping short of it, she peered around the corner to see a young man with long, black hair, holding up a knife threateningly to another, taller man dressed in a jogging suit.

"I'm not gonna hurt you, dude." The teen insisted half-convincingly. "Like I said, I just need some cash. You look like someone who isn't strapped for cash."

"B-but I don't have my w-wallet on me..." The jogger sputtered, holding his hands above his golden hair.

"C-c'mon, man. Who doesn't have their wallet on them? Stop playin' around." He pointed the knife at him again, this time much close to the man's face..

"I'm not playin'!" The jogger raised his voice, close to the point of screaming. With a lunge, the teen covered the other's mouth with his gloved hand, silencing him. Muffled cries came from the jogger as the dark-haired youth glared and drew the knife to his throat.

"W-what the hell, man?" He whispered aggressively. "I'm just tryin' ta do this quietly! I just need ta get by! Pull something like this again! I dare ya!"

"Enough."

Naomi's voice boomed down the alley, startling both men. Upon seeing her, the jogger let out a wild collection of sounds that was suppressed by the hoodlum, who still held the man's mouth firmly despite his composure briefly breaking. His eyebrows furrowed, nostrils flaring, as he turned his knife at Naomi.

"This has nothin' ta do with you." He waved the weapon in Naomi's direction. "Don't get involved in this, all right? Keep on walkin'!"

But Naomi did not move. She stood unspeaking, as if she was casting judgement upon him. Her eyes met his, and she saw the unsteadiness in his pupils. She looked down and saw the subtle shaky movements of his hand, the twitches in his fingers. His breathing was erratic; not fast, but at the point where Naomi noticed that, too.

"Are ya just going to stand there!?" He exclaimed impatiently. "Go on! Leave, and don't try getting anyone else involved, or you're gonna get hurt too."

Still unmoving, Naomi reached into the bag at her side.

"Hey! D-don't try anything funny, or else this guy's not just gonna be losing some cash!" Expecting Naomi to pull out some sort of weapon, he pointed the knife back at the jogger. He screamed under the teen's hand, tears streaming down his face. However, Naomi kept eye contact with the younger man and produced something else from her purse.

"I'm warning...wha?"

It was a wallet. Naomi held it out in front of her and displayed it clearly to him.

"If I give you my wallet, will you let that man go?" She asked sincerely. A puzzled expression formed on his face. He narrowed his eyes to scrutinize the wallet.