Post by Nora Fisher on Feb 21, 2018 2:14:45 GMT -7
| She found them. Nora knew a gang of the older boys hung out around these parts like highwaymen, and her guess was right. Three of them surrounded the man and stopped him in his tracks and Nora practically collapsed behind some rubbish bins a bit farther down the alley, partly trying to hide and partly just trying to catch her breath. The boys were mean and scrappy but the man looked like he was an actual fighter, and she couldn't bank on the idea of the Pariah's stopping him forever if he really did try to fight through them like he'd fought the Orc earlier. Her hands were shaking from the adrenaline. She could hear one of the boys, it sounded like Tanner, ask the man what he was doing here. Typical tough-guy talk, of course. The man wasn't having any of it though and he cut straight to the chase - he was here for Nora because she stole from him. He really wasn't going to give up, was he? She wondered what could possibly be in the pouch worth the trouble besides merely coins, or maybe the guy just was that protective of his money. Or maybe he was the kind of guy who got up on a high horse about justice and honour and how stealing was wrong and should be punished. Nora was torn between just giving the man back the damn pouch or sneaking away while he was held up, until of course she felt a hand twist into the scarf at the scruff of her neck and practically drag her to her feet. She struggled against it but it was no use. Knuckles had her on lock, and unless she ripped her clothes (already filled with holes as they were) she wouldn't be able to pull herself out of it. He leaned in close and she could smell the sour stench of his breath as he spoke. "You stole something belonging to this man here?" he questioned gruffly and she turned her head, looking to the ground instead of into his beady eyes. He shook her and demanded, "Answer me, Fish," and she bit her lip, nodding slightly. She could feel his glare on her and was acutely aware of the other boys and the man standing nearby, probably listening. She wanted to melt into the ground and disappear, but what could she do against Knuckles? Anything she could do he would repay to her tenfold. He could make her life even more of a hell. He could report her and get her taken away by the same people who took Connor. He could even kill her, if he wanted. He sneered down at her and his voice was mocking and cruel when he spoke next. "And you let him fucking catch you taking it, you useless bitch. " He threw her to the side and stepped out towards the man, punching one fist against his open palm menacingly, clearly ready to join the other three Pariahs in beating the man to a pulp (or so they planned). Nora fell to her knees and winced as the hard stone bit into her skin, hoping the Pariah's could scare off the man but also kind of hoping maybe for him to beat Knuckles and the others up instead. |