Evening Fright

[Nyra]

Nyra turned the corner of the abandoned sidewalk in somewhat of a hurry, looking at the ground most of the time, not caring where she was going or anything. She just needed to get away from that group of thugs she ran into earlier that night. She stopped abruptly as she realized then that it was an alley way, and it was dark...though she wasn't expecting the pair of painfully familiar eyes that hers met as she looked up with a blank expression, which slowly turned to one of surprise and anger...it was a face that she could have done well with not to see again...one she wished she wouldn't have.

“Alex…”

She whispered with hate in her voice. Alex looked at her with an evil grin and chuckled at her.

“Come on babe, you know you love me.”

He said walking up to her with open arms. The term “lunatic” came to mind when she first laid eyes on this man. His demeanor was unwelcoming, he was rude, sarcastic, and down right blunt towards her. There were times where Nyra came close to killing this man, if it weren’t for Amy stopping her. His physical form is notably muscular and athletic. His shoulder-length, straight hair was always tied back and was the color of autumn leaves. He has a wide forehead and a pointed chin his chocolate eyes stared deeply into Nyra’s eyes. Alex was always emotionally, cold and physically abusive towards Amy. Nyra never understood what Amy saw in him or why in the hell she was still with this guy, she began to start hating him when they all noticed busies on Amy, then again Nyra never like him to begin with. Nyra folded her arms across her chest as she watched Alex slowly pace in front of her.

“So tell me, what’s a little girl like you wandering the streets so late in the night?”

He said, as he slowly came closer to her.

“What? You’re not going to tell me? Do I have to….persuade it out of you?”

Alex was now close enough where she could smell the cologne he wore, faint but there. Nyra remained quiet she didn’t want to tell him anything, frankly she didn’t thinks she was going to run into him.

“Fine if you don’t want to tell me then…perhaps.”

A loud crashing sound of glass breaking made Nyra turned her head for a brief moment only to be caught off guard as Alex’s knee met her stomach. The air was forced out of her, as she fell to her knees arms wrap around her stomach. Coughing and gasping for air for several minutes, still trying to gain air back in her Nyra smiled as she looked up at him.

“I see you haven’t change one bit…Still…beating on women to prove you’re…a…man.”

“Still playing hard to get aren’t you Nyra? And if you’re wondering what was that sound it was a cat up to no good just like you Bad luck kitty kat….”

Out of reflex Nyra grabbed his wrist when he clenched some of her hair. He brought her face close to his smelling the alcohol and cigarettes on his breath while his other hand touched her face. Why wasn’t she fighting back? Believe her she wanted too but whatever it is he held something against Amy, that could hurt them all or worse Amy. Nyra couldn’t risk something like that, even if she wanted too.

“Your really pretty Nyra, too bad we don’t see eye to eye on things.”

He said as he pushed her back hard enough she hit her head on the ground hard blurring her vision and stunning her for a brief moment before pain took over. She placed both her hands on the back of her head, trying to rub the pain away. He reminded her of her father, how he use to do abuse her, but what he was doing to her was nothing compared what her father did to Nyra. She could still hear Alex talk, she didn’t really care on what he thought about her. It was all talk, if Nyra could only fight back she’d really teach this guy a lesson or two about respect. Slowly she sat up, her angry brown eyes stared into his as she watched him pace in front of her still talking. Alex stopped for a moment only to look back at her as she got up dusting the dirt off of her.

“I forgive you for being rude to me, I still love you babe. Anyway it’s way past your bed time and you need to get home before ‘she’ gets mad at you. And you don’t want that do you? Oh, and before I go…”

Nyra felt a sharp pain so forceful that it made her head turn. She stumbled till she fell to one knee, both her hands placed on her right cheek completely stunned on what just happened. The bastard slap her! Anger built up in her, she balled her fist it was the last straw she wasn’t going to let this bastard run free. Nyra quickly looked his way hoping to catch him off guard as he was walking away, too her disappointment he was gone.

Getting up she rubbed the side of her face that was slightly red and swollen, staring off into the dark alley way wondering where he went too. She sighed, dusting her self off before turning around and walking the other direction. Just as she turned the corner she ran into someone, startling her as she landed on her behind.

“I’m sorry….I..I…didn’t see you there…”

She stammered as she quickly got up.

[Valencia Donahue]

Valencia sometimes didn’t like heading home to her apartment at night. Granted, she was used to tussling with the kind of obstacles most young ladies have to put up with, but it wasn’t as though she’d pass up the chance to avoid them if she could. Nonetheless, she had a destination and it was inevitable that she had to make the journey since her roommate was tending to important business. The Vietnamese “blonde” knew most of the San Franciscan streets like the back of her hand, with some odd places here and there she had yet to explore. It made combat and escape easy, but Darwin made evolution work out so “predators have to keep up with prey somehow or they’d be nonexistent”. Case in point, thugs, gangsters, and hoodlums can chase down people who aren’t quick enough on their toes and do worse things to those who just aren’t quick. Luckily, evolution also worked in Valencia’s favor because the element of surprise worked best when people’s guards are down… Who would resist attacking that “blonde” walking home all by herself at night? Especially with sunglasses on and a cane to guide her way like a blind person? That just spells “mug me”! No one would ever guess that Valencia would throttle and whip the sonnuva gun with her retractable cane!

But enough digressing… Valencia was on her way home when she heard a commotion. Judging by the familiar sounds and hullabaloo, it was a group of jerks on the prowl again and they apparently found someone else to bug instead of this stuntwoman. She sighed softly and adjusted her sunglasses.

People really shouldn’t run towards loud noises and imminent danger, but that kind of reasoning is killing off the few altruists out there…

Valencia hastened her already brisk pace and navigated her way over to the street where she heard a sharp sound of something against a flat surface. It registered as a slap to her somehow and while her brain was searching for the victim and the assailants, her guts told her that she had to make a beeline for the alley. Once she made it close enough to the dark and dank place, someone rounded the corner out of it and collided into her. The collision surprised Valencia enough to make her raise her cane as if to strike (pickpockets “accidentally” bump into people), but saw Nyra getting up and apologizing. If Valencia was in the usual state of mind to check if anything was stolen, regardless of whether or not the pickpocket was a male or female, she would’ve struck Nyra anyways… Her gut told her not to.

“It’s hard to see through corners. You seem to be in a hurry. Are you lost? I think I can help you out if you are.”

Brief and to the point. If Nyra wasn’t a pickpocket, she was probably a lost tourist. San Francisco is a tourist hotspot after all. See Valencia’s logical progression here…

[Nyra]

"Um, no I'm not. It's just that..."

She trailed off for a moment. What should she say, she doesn't know this girl should she say she was just beaten just now? Would she even care at all? Maybe she can see the redness on her face? Maybe she could helpe her tack this guy down? No, she's probably just like the rest of them not giving a damn in the world or the people around them. Selfish. Besides, Nyra could handle Alex. Next time he pulls something like that again she's not holding back.

"Never mind...it's not important I just had some trouble back there, but I'm ok."

She said with a faint smile, rubbing the side of her face where Alex smacked her. Her cheek stung and throb a bit, but it was ok. She was use to something like this before, her father always done worse. Whatever Alex did to her back there was nothing.

"I'm, Nyra by the way. Nice too meet you miss."

Why was she trying to make conversation with this girl? She bet she could careless wither Nyra was trying to be friendly or not. When she accidently bumb into her she nearly hit her with cane for peeks sakes! Maybe Nyra needed someone to talk too, Amy wasn't going to do anything about it, probabaly tell her to toughen up and stop being so whiny all the damn time. Well, it couldn't help but to try right?

[Valencia Donahue]

Behind Valencia’s shades was a steely stare that was fixed on Nyra’s form as her focus was concentrated on the stranger’s words. The Asian didn’t need to pry to get her answers—Nyra unconsciously spoke volumes through her manner of speaking and body language. There was trouble alright and by the looks of it, it’s personal. Commotions don’t boil down to a mere slap in an alley and the “victim” shrugging things off like it’s nothing. Whoever did the slapping purposely let Nyra off and Nyra’s refusal to divulge details is enough to say that she’s well acquainted with said “slapper”. Valencia figured that much at least because she was in similar situations before… As long as people back off and let her do her thing, she’ll just keep putting up the blinds as if denying the harm it’s doing. It’s very complicated and Valencia is glad that she isn’t the sort to butt in unless the reasoning is faulty…

The trouble itself may not be important, but what you make of it is. It’s none of my business whether or not I should help you, but I know for a fact that of people who need to deal with it, it’s you, Nyra. All I can do push you into figuring it out if I really have to.

“Donahue. Valencia Donahue. This time usually breeds the kind of people who fester the streets looking for ‘opportunity’. It doesn’t appear as though you’re anything of the sort, so I do apologize for nearly taking your head off. They say that not all who wander are lost… If you aren’t lost, I hope I am not rude in asking why you’re wandering?”

Generic question that can easily be answered in any way you slice it, but it’s not like Valencia was trying to dig out Nyra’s heart. They were becoming acquaintances and as such, it’d be rude to get too intimate too soon. The “blind” Asian placed the tip of her retractable cane back on the ground as her senses were still on guard. The two of them were still unsafe, after all.

[Nyra]

Nyra looked down for a moment it would seem Valencia, wanted to know what she was up too. Couldn’t blame her though she was wondering around in the dark for no reason, top of that her coming out of the alley was kind of suspicions, so there was no harm on telling her. What exactly does she want to know? That she was up to no good by sneaking out of the house so she could get into more trouble. Well running away from those thugs awhile back sort of started this whole mess really. Where she should she start? Should she tell her the whole story of Amy’s abusive boyfriend? Perhaps tell her the fact that Alex is hiding something that scares her and keeps her in her place? Or should she tell her about Amy drinking problem, consent fighting and yelling at Alex, which leads Nyra of sneaking out of the house?

“I just needed to get out of the house. One of my friends is re decorating the house, people like that go little nuts.”

She chuckled at the last part shaking her head as she folding her arms across her chest.

“What about you, if I may ask.”


((ooc: sorry for the late and short post. I get off of work pretty late.))

[Valencia Donahue]

“I can relate, even though eccentric people are alright to be around with. Fun to watch and whatnot.”

…At least, most of the time. While Ruth and Gladys are usually entertaining people to be with, Valencia often tries to be elsewhere instead of within earshot whenever her lesbian friends “spend the night together in a locked room”. She feels uncomfortable whenever they’re not going crazy and being the silly selves they are. Nyra seemed troubled still, but as long as Valencia doesn’t turn nudge into shove, things should be alright. Besides, there was no point in pushing her for answers based only off of mere assumptions. Then again, if Valencia knew what kind of “redecorating” was going on, she’d have more to say… Now it was Valencia’s turn to give answers, even though she had less to hide compared to Nyra for the time being. The Asian was still on her guard and concentrating solely on that as she gave the flat-out truth.

“I was heading home to my apartment. Usually my roommate would pick me up, but she had business to attend to and I’m used to walking alone at night. On the other hand, I don’t usually think others are as capable of maintaining their safety… And I know for a fact that most forms of assistance are appreciated whenever offered, so I lend a hand for the good karma.”

Valencia exhaled softly to get some smell from the alley out of her nose. She turned away to the empty street where relatively cleaner air could be inhaled.

“In short, I heard something over here and I had nothing else planned tonight. Seeing that there is no action to tend to for now, I think it’s wise to head somewhere less threatening instead of staying here any longer.”

[Nyra]

Nyra gave a friendly smile, but deep down her heart pounded in her chest with every question Valencia comes closer to finding out the truth and every answer Nyra is slowly breaking. So Nyra knew the reason why Valencia was here. She wanted to know what was happing earlier in the alley. If only she came a little sooner she would of met Alex. Probably would of faced him too or not. Still what just happened is now in the past. There’s still a way that Nyra could tell her what had happened but she wanted to keep playing the ‘guessing game’ for a little longer.

“Your right we should be getting out of here…”

Nyra turned around to look back at the alley where she encountered Alex. She had a strange feeling that she couldn’t get rid off a feeling as if they were being watch, was he still there, spying on them? Planning his next move? Part of her wanted to go find him and the other half said disagreed.

“Where do you want to go?”

She said turning back around. She didn't care where their going all she wanted was to get away from here.

[Valencia Donahue]

Valencia had a distinct hunch that she was making Nyra feel really, really uncomfortable with these questions being asked and answers being given, but reasoned that the offer to take her somewhere safe would calm the acquaintance a little. The Asian didn’t want to blow her disguise by checking a watch because she too felt that the two were being observed, so she tried to guess at the time. It was obviously late and it’s not as though too many places were still open at this hour to provide temporary refuge. Valencia thought carefully and gave Nyra her answer…

“It’s not a matter of where I want to go, but where you want to go… Then again, anywhere should suffice as far as I know these parts. There’s a gas station at the end of this street and I know a diner further along. From there, it should be easier to figure some things out. The gas station isn’t on my top ten list of safe places because of its bad vibe, but it’s more lit up over there than here and it’s our first stop.”

When you have to do it, you have to do it.

The Vietnamese woman checked her surroundings and motioned with her cane for Nyra to be in front of her, away from the alley. She then retracted her cane, but kept it in her hand. There was no telling when she’d need it again. Plus, there was no point in hiding her faux blindness and making herself look like a weak target would invite harm and her current mission was to be a bodyguard of sorts. Valencia didn’t remove her sunglasses though. Despite that too many things already added up to her not truly being blind, she really didn’t want Nyra to get anymore unsettled than she already was.

“Please don’t take it personally, but I would like to suggest that you walk in front where I can… Keep track of where you are in case anything happens. I can still lead and you don’t have to worry so much about me. Alternatively, you can walk by my side, but be aware that against the wall leaves you exposed to alleys and near the street leaves you open to jerks on wheels.”

All options are pretty bad at this point, one of which even puts me at risk, but… We just need to get out of here.

“Let’s go regardless of your decision.”