Just try to dart past him.

Jessica grit her teeth as the man approached, as her body tensed and tremble went through her. She could get past this man in his heavy leathers. She stepped toward the man, and began to run. When she reached the man, she saw the fury, hunger, and fear in him, as he flinched and drew his axe up. Acting on instinct, Jessica tucked into a roll on the rough cobble stone, each stone edge digging into and bruising her soft skin. But all this was overshadowed by the gut dropping relief as she heard the axe spark on the ground where she had just been. Jessica landed in a low crouch from her roll, adrenaline and pain throbbing in her as a big push from her leg brought her to her feet and leading her to a run up the stairs.

"Away with you beast!" she heard the man repeat from behind, but Jessica was already rounding the corner, away indeed. Jessica was almost home.