Close Call

The bus lurches to a halt as Nadia yanks the silver chain above her head, eyeing the sidewalk in front of her. As she gets off, questions race through her head. Questions about Doe. She finds herself becoming more intrigued about this ordinary man who she’s never thought except as an afterthought, until now. She strolls along the sidewalk, scanning carefully as she walks the mile and half or so towards her home, thinking of her teacher.

She spies a group of figures hovering in the distance, self-conscious as they huddle in their hoodies and leather coats. By all rights, she should be concerned about her safety. Yet she doesn’t give them much of a thought. She’s had blades held to her throat, guns thrust in front of her face. Every conceivable situation imaginable and walked away in one piece.

Still, she pats the gun resting snug on her hip. Best not to take any chances.
She continues to stroll, heedless of the churning in her gut. She shrugs it off, taking pleasure in the fact that if anyone is deft with their gun, it would be her. As she edges closer towards them, her muscles tense up.

Probably just a bunch of latchkey kids she muses.

Nadia glances instinctively behind her shoulder. There’s a bad vibe in the air, and she doesn’t know why. For a split second, she considers turning around and flagging a motorist, or waiting for the bus. Surely a sympathetic mom or college student wouldn’t mind dropping her off at her house.

The figures come into focus as she edges closer. The mixed group of kids slum it on the stoop of an dilapidated house, oblivious to the weeds taking over the yard. The Russian scoffs at the suburban would-be gang. Bunch of amateurs.

“Hey, sweetie.” A caramel colored truant catcalls from his perch on the porch. “Lost or somethin’?”

Nadia ignores him.

“What’s your problem?” His voice takes on a sharper air. “Are you deaf? I’m talkin’ to you.”

“Listen to my homeboy.” His lieutenant, a short, swarthy young man commands her.

“Leave me alone.” Nadia snaps at him. “I have nothing to do with you.”

“Stuck up, ungrateful bitch.”

The Russian turns on her heels.

“Aren’t you a charmer.” She sneers at him. “Do you talk to your mother like that, or do you save all your misogynistic bullshit for pretty women like me?”

“Shut up.” The leader of the group commands him. “But really, you should listen to him, if you know what’s better for you.”

Nadia laughs him off.

“Good to know you have your priorities in order, El Capitan.”

She spies the tell-tale sheen of the switchblade in his fist, sparkling in the spring sun.

“I suppose this is the point when I’m supposed to be scared and submit to you and your friends?”

The truant chuckles.

“Somethin’ like that.”

“And if I said no?”

“Well I guess I’ll have to be more convincin’.”

With a flick of the wrist, the gang surrounds her, intimidating with their bulky frames. She sizes them up carefully. Five against one, huh? She wonders. Sounds like my kind of odds.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” Nadia cautions the gang leader.

He spits on the ground.

“Who are you? You’re just one woman.”

Without much thought, Nadia drop kicks her nearest opponent, watching as he crumples to the ground. His nearest colleague moves in to avenge him, but he suffers much the same fate, falling as the Russian knees him in the stomach. The others back off instinctively, wary of the femme fatale in black skirt and thigh highs.

“I’ll say it again.” She calls out. “Are you sure you want to go down this path?”

El Captian shifts uncomfortably as he eyes her, incensed at the thought of being bested by a girl.

“That’s just beginner’s luck.”

“I’m not a beginner.” Nadia smirks.

She gazes at the two boys splayed on the ground, rendered **** by her blows.

“They should wake up in a few hours.” She reassures him. “It could’ve been much worse.”

“Much worse?”

She eyes him warily.

“Next time a poor, young girl passes through, ask yourself ‘are they really just a poor, **** girl?’

“What are you sayin’?”

“Let’s just say a young girl isn’t always just a poor girl.”

As she continues on her way, El Capitans’ takes in the view, befuddled by his unlikely defeat.