"Excuse me!"
"Name's Johnny. Wait. Let me get things straight. Who are you?" Cynthia raises an eyebrow.
"Just tell me more if you have. I'll pay more."
"Nah, girl... I'm not sabotaging Johnny like that. Not if you tell me who you are..."
"Okay... I need help from him. An enemy gang is after me. I heard of his enigmatic strength, so I want him to protect me."
"Nah, Johnny doesn't do bodyguard jobs. He-"
"He'll say that himself, not you. Just tell me where to find him."
"Okay. The truth is... Johnny is a very private man. No one knows where he is right now. But... I can give you a lead. Know Silas?"
"Of course."
"His niece got abducted by Silas for women trafficking. If you want to get Johnny, get Silas first... Or rather, track Silas-you might cross paths with him..."
She utters a hasty thanks, eager to depart.
Cynthia springs to her feet. The chair scrapes against the floor. "Wait. Mind telling me your name, perhaps?"
"Name's Rue. Thanks for the information." She opens the door and leaves hastily.
"I've got leads. But Silas? Bad news. Or should I relay this news to Boss Jager himself? No, I probably should head forward looking for tracks. I might find him."
Her head clashes in a sudden, disorienting crash with a stranger wearing a blue Eagle crest. They stumble back, hands grasping foreheads. "That's a member of the Blue Whale. Not good."
She turns to depart-a quick exit-but the man's hand closes around hers. "Where do you think you're going, woman..."
She pushes his hand and tries to walk fast. His hand grabs her coat and draws.
She throws a fist. He dodges and tries to grab her. She sneaks through his hands and throws a second fist. His cheek meets her hand. A long straight needle quickly drives into his neck. The man slumps and falls to the ground.
Another woman wearing the same Blue Crest arrives. Sensing the woman's arrival, she runs.
"Hey! Hey," the woman barks. "Solomon! Solomon! Please don't die on me," tears drive down her face.
The woman releases a piercing scream. The very thought sets her soul ablaze.
"Good. Thank God that woman—"
The woman follows beside her as they run through the street. Fast. Too fast.
"The Whale's wounded! The Whale's wounded!" the woman screams. Her voice echoes through the neighbourhood.
Men start coming out from in and out, chasing the enemy.
People evacuate the street. Some close their windows and doors. Chickens sing and dart, flapping their wings.
She hurtles through an alley. Echo of footsteps advancing in. She darts a glance-the enemies' pupils are relentless. Four men block the front, baseball bats at the ready. She vaults onto the rooftops. Doves scatter, beating wildly, flapping their wings as they flee. She leaps, scrambles, and drops into another alley.
She is not avoiding a fight; she is avoiding a mob. Her objection is too vital to waste in a street brawl.
Men appear from shadows-a living wall, trapping her. A circle tightens, like a noose of steel. She spins, looking for an escape route.
From the centre of the living crowd. A figure steps forward. "Never thought I'd see ya again, yo!" Swaggering, grin sprinting across his face as he laughs.
"Mike..." her voice hardly spills his name.
"Flash Night Jessie," he drawls. "Hahahaha!!" his eyes widen in excitement. "Today's my lucky day."
Jessie scans the surroundings. Mike draws closer. "What brought you to my town, hmmm..." draws out a sword. "You will taste my sweet katana..."
The group marches forward, their weapons pointed towards her.
A blur of malice and intent lies within their faces.