Death

   TW: Physical assault - small blood mention

 Keeping to the shadows I skulk and hold a small cup of coffee close, I don’t want much attention on me since I'm not supposed to be out of Gehenna but I’ve been craving the coffee at "Cough-ee" for weeks. "Cough-ee" is a small cafe that both sells great food and gives eighty-two per cent of their profits to the sick children in the area, good people. Sighing I pull my hair back into a bun most of the strands falling out of the elastic. I wish I were like the cafe workers but instead, I'm more concerned if my hair is too feminine, both my dad and best friend, Abdulbaith, say my hair looks good and are supportive but I can't help but think otherwise, do my gang members think I look weak? I'm supposed to fit a mean, tough, and strong persona as the leader of The Crimson Lilies but I'm not even that strong! I'm toned and athletic but not fit for the bad boy look.

"Whatever," I mumble to myself. Dragging along I continue to sip the steaming drink while walking towards the subway station.

    "ACK!" a female voice cries out in pain from an alley. My palms begin to sweat causing me to drop the coffee, my breath quickens. What’s going on?! We're in Empyrean why would there be someone in distress? Thoughts scrambling I catch myself and try to calm down, maybe the woman has a stinging blister and is just fixing her shoe or it could even be a pregnant woman whose water just broke?! I decide to run over in case someone needs help. Instead, I'm faced with the back of my own gangs torn leather jacket! what are the crimsons doing here? I'll need to ask AbdulBaith later. Focusing I look around to see that’s there’s a girl on the ground in a muddied dark blue dress that goes down to her knees which are now scraped and thrashed she’s holding her head and swaying back and forth clearly in pain. behind her Is a woman with red hair cut into a short bob with a large rock in her grasp. The figure in front of me turns out to be a huge, burly, rough-looking man. He looms in front of the distraught girl getting ready to hit when my instincts tell me to help her. As fast as I can I run up to the man and give the strongest kick I can muster right into his gut. He lets out a satisfying shriek of pain. Swivelling around I kick him again but this time hard into his shin to stop him from chasing me. Then running through the shadows towards the woman I get ready to finish the fight but she screams at the doubled over man to retreat. I pause now, sweating more than I should with my heart pounding out of my chest. Thinking they'll leave, letting the girl go. The Redhead takes my pause as a chance punching me right in the nose, tears blurring my sight I stumble back. Once I regain my ground they're gone including the beaten girl.

                                                                       ***---***

    While applying the contents of a cheap pharmacy 'first aid kit' I bought after not finding the Crimsons anywhere I silently ride the subway back to downtown Gehenna. I feel stupid for not being able to help that girl and I can’t shake the feeling that I’ve met her before. Nevermind. Stuffing the rappers and casings of the first aid equipment into my pockets I stand up knowing I'm nearing my destination.

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