A Nighttime Stroll
It had been a few months since you had graduated from Midtown High and you were still figuring out how to adjust to it all. You had been "blipped" and as such, you struggled with determining what had happened in those 5 lengthy years.
You scroll through your laptop, applying for any job you could find. It was very irritating that the fact your skills which you had enhanced in high school were considered futile. They wanted you to have 30 years of experience, but under 20, and to be a man. 'Women in STEM' was a whole lie to you. Due to the blip, the economy suffered a depression. Even though things were better now, New York, especially, agonized. After hours of mindlessly scrolling, you slam your laptop shut and go outside to get some fresh air. You lock the door behind you and start a stroll.
It was getting late so you decided to go back home. You chewed on a fresh panini you had ordered up from a tiny deli. Tossing out the wrapper and glanced at something in the corner of your eye. There was a group of men following you. Or at least that's what seemed to look like. You brought out your phone and got a better look at them with your front camera as you kept strolling. Yep. They were pursuing you.
Your mother had educated you well. You changed up your stride, and turned corner after corner, getting towards a brightly lit parking lot. This didn't dissuade them.
"Hey, look what we have here! A lonely lady out in the dark. We can walk you home.." One man spoke, his colleagues laughing as they sauntered towards you.
"Ah, no thanks! I'm good!" You show a fake smile, hoping to get them to leave you be.
"Awww come on sweetheart, we don't bite." A tall one offered, his mouth showing a wide, wicked grin.
"I said. I'm good." You grit your teeth as you turn around clutching your fists at your sides.
"Ooooh!!! We got a fighter, Jacob!" The fat one shouted at you, letting out a belly laugh.
"Let's knock her down a peg, eh?" Said the leader, who you were guessing was 'Jacob'.
'Y/N, don't make the first move. When they throw the punch, you can dodge it. You need the upper hand with these assholes.' You reckoned to yourself. One of the men hoists his baseball bat, another a crowbar. The rest have their fists. It should be simple enough.
The boy with the crowbar came charging at you, it was noticeable that he was big, stupid and clumsy. You dipped out of the way and stuck your foot out, sending him stumbling to the asphalt. You beat his hands to let go of the crowbar and grab it as the others join in to defend their despicable friend.
As they came at you, you studied how many. 5, in front of you, and one on the ground, gradually getting back up. With the crowbar, you whirl back, hitting the man who was standing up. You hear a sickening crunch- which was probably his nose- before swinging it back around to the next guy who was in front of you. His head gets injured and bloody as you kick the other in the stomach. The kid with the baseball ball lands a strike on the side of your body. You let out a roar of pain and feel someone grab you by the arms, pulling your back flush to their chest. Jacob walked over, sneering in your face.
"You shouldn't have done that, I can't let a little lady like you go~"
He reaches out to stroke your cheek, until a line of something white opaque hits it, and yanks it away.
"You know, that pickup line was pretty bad."