Snippet #2551064

A tiny glimmer in the alleyway caused Jettie to pause. She looked all around her to see if anyone else noticed. There were only a few others walking hurriedly through the alley and none seemed to pay her or the glimmer any attention. Her curiosity perked as she slowed and approached where she had seen the light. It only flickered once, like perhaps a light cell phone or something of the like had flashed.

Scanning the dimmly lit area, she saw nothing but random bits of trash and debris that commonly gathered between the large buildings. Hmm... Jetting shook her head and chalked it up to just her eyes playing tricks on her. In a city plum full of neon it was bound to happen every once in a while. That being tired and still frustrated over the evenings earlier events. Still... the light was odd.

Just as she was about to shrug it off and continue onward, a hand touched her shoulder followed by a raspy voice, "Spare a little change?"

Jettie yelped as she instinctively jerked from the grip and spun to face the culprit. Her heart was racing as she discovered it only to be a little old lady. Homeless she guessed by the look of the woman's ragged and dirty clothes. Not to mention the stench that seemed to seep off her in waves. Jettie's nose crinkled in disaproval but quickly she tried to regain her composure to not hurt the smiling woman's feelings.

"Change? Just a bit. Whatever you can spare."

"I-I, um," Jettie cleared her throat trying to ease her nerves from the sudden scare, "Yes. I should have some. Just let me..." She trailed off, offering the woman a smile before she turned her attention to the flap on her bag. Her still shaking hands fumbled for a moment before they calmed enough to allow her to undo the buckle and dig around the inside.

"Yes, yes," The woman said as she watched Jettie excitedly, inching closer as Jettie had her eyes downcast. "Please, whatever you can spare. I haven't eaten since yesterday. I'd like to go to a buffet. There's one two blocks from here that is only nine ninety nine. They've got crab legs. I love crab legs..."

Jettie glanced up as she pulled out her wallet. The woman was grinning to show off her near rotted teeth. The smile on Jet's face faltered slightly as the strench of decay hit her nose. Quickly she pulled out a ten dollar bill. "Here, this should cover the buffet." She nearly thrust it the woman, as if using it as a barrier between herself and the smell.

"Is this... all you have?" The woman snatched the bill and quickly shoved it into some unseen hideaway pocket near her bosom. Still she seemed to loom in Jettie's direction as she stared. It made Jet feel very uneasy.

"Well..."

Jettie swallowed as lies flashed across her thoughts. Tell her it's all the cash you have. Tell her you only have your credit card. Tell her you're broke. Tell her you're homeless too. Anything. Keep her away from you!

Then another small voice spoke up. You shouldn't lie Jettie. She's just hungry and poor. Look at her. Look at her teeth. She's in poor health. You should help her.

"No... I do I have a bit more..." Jettie admitted in defeat as she went to rummage through her wallet again. Luckily she didn't have on her that much more. Most of the customers tended to tip via their charge cards these days and that money wouldn't show up till when she received her weekly pay check. It seemed annoying at the time, now she was a bit glad for it. Truly she did have about forty more dollars in cash on her. Should she give it all to this homeless woman?

Before she could think it through, and before she could get the first dollar out, she was hit from behind. Her wallet flew from her hands as she was slammed into the brick wall closest to her. A jolt of pain shot up and down her back causing her vision to blur. Gasping and jerking, Jettie tried to free herself from the strong hands that held her against the warm bricks. Blinking through the swirling spots of pain, she saw that two men held her in place, one of each side. But how? Wide-eyed she glanced them over. They were both dressed in similar distressed garb and reeked of garbage and surprisingly both seemed to be as old and frail as the woman, who was now cackling a low triumphant laugh.

"Such a good girl Jettie..." A glimmer shown as the woman slowly reached into one of her hidden pockets and pulled out a brilliant white knife. Only it was like no knife like Jettie every seen before. At least not in real life, maybe in some fantasy medieval movie. It had a golden hilt and the blade seemed to glow with a bright white light. "Always doing what is right..."

"Wh-what are you doing?" Jettie stammered in a small voice as the woman stepped closer to her bringing the knife too close for comfort. "No. Stop!" Jettie pretested as she struggled, her heart and head racing in fear, "I was helping you! I was giving you money. Why are you doing this?" Now she felt as if she were screaming as she squirmed and pulled and tried to break free from the men's impossibly ironclad grip.

Yes! Scream! Scream for help. Someone will hear you!

"Help! Please! Help!" Jettie yelled and gasped as she pulled up her legs and attempted to kick at the approaching women who only seemed to giggle in delight as she raised the knife and aimed for Jettie's throat.

This can't be happening!