I hated conflict of any kind. But it was getting late, and I wanted to go home, take a warm bath, and sleep in my bed. Besides, it wasn’t like I wanted to get involved in whatever fight they were having.
Just as I opened the doors and walked into the hall, security was already ushering people out. Madison was standing not too far away, so I quickly approached her.
“What’s going on?” I asked.
Madison turned to me with a look of concern on her face. “Just some typical brawl, nothing to worry about,” she said.
“What exactly happened?”
“Well, those two groups were sitting at tables that were right next to each other,” Madison explained. “I had a bad feeling about those men from the beginning. They seemed to be up to no good.”
In spite of myself, I was curious. “Why?”
“I’m not sure. I can’t explain it, but… there were five guys, all looking like the hoodlums you see on the street,” Madison said, her expression twisting in distaste. “One of them suddenly lost his wallet, so they started blaming the guy at the next table, claiming that they caught him staring at the wallet suspiciously.”
“That’s quite the assumption.”
“I know, right?” Madison shook her head. “The guy was with his girlfriend. The two of them were just peacefully enjoying their time here. Those men were probably just looking for a fight.”
“Probably. But did they find the wallet in the end?”
“You left contact information with security. We’ll let them know if we ever find the wallet here. For now, they’re being escorted out because of the ruckus they caused. The guy also left quickly with his girlfriend.”
“Fair enough. I feel bad for the guy, though.”
“Same. Though I have to admit I was pretty scared back there,” Madison said suddenly. “Those men looked too suspicious, to be honest. At one point I thought one of them had a gun.”
I stiffened. “Did they?”
“No, no. It was just my imagination, I guess. They were just acting tough like all gangsters do.” Madison shrugged. “At least they’re not here anymore. Hey, you going home right now?”
I nodded. “It’s getting late, so I want to go as soon as possible.”
Madison looked a little concerned. “Girl, maybe you should stay here for a while. Those men might still be around and I don’t want you to get involved in a big fight as a passerby. I’m telling you, I have a bad feeling about these guys.”
“Madison, I’ll be fine,” I tried to reassure her. “I’m just going to run as fast as I can to the bus stop. I’m sure they’re just brooding somewhere in an alley or something. I can just avoid those areas.”
Madison still looked unconvinced. “But, Julie… I don’t feel good about this. Maybe I should leave early or take a break and walk you out.”
“No, you don’t have to. Maddy, you know Mr. Hanson doesn’t like it when we leave early or take a break. Besides,” I added, glancing at the overturned tables and chairs, “I think you still have to deal with the mess those guys left you…”
“Oh! Mr. Hanson’s going to kill me,” Madison lamented as she rushed over to the mess. “Still, Julia!” she called from behind her. “Just be careful, okay?”
I waved at her with a smile. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.”
As I approached the exit doors, my heart began to race.
I had lied to Madison. I didn’t think I would be okay since there was a good chance those guys were still around.
Not only that, but I got scared when Madison mentioned that one of them had a gun. It might have been her imagination in the heat of the moment, but I couldn’t rule it out either.
If I waited for Madison to finish her shift, I would have to sit here for another three hours. She lived nearby in an apartment, so she didn’t have to go down the street and pass through any shady-looking alleys.
Besides, I was tired, and all I really wanted to do was lie down on my bed.
‘Maybe I’m just being too paranoid,’ I thought to myself as I left the bar, feeling the cool night breeze brush against my face.
As long as I quickened my pace, I would be fine.
I pressed my coat tightly against my body, as if it would protect me from any harm. I walked quickly towards the bus stop, feeling even more paranoid at the lack of people passing by.
Even though I could still hear the noisy sounds of the bar in the distance, it didn’t reassure me that much. The further I walked, the farther away the sounds became, and the approaching silence began to creep me out.
I took a deep breath as I walked down the street, my eyes scanning the dark surroundings. There were hardly any businesses open at this hour in this part of the neighborhood. The houses were a few blocks away, and the only signs of life I could see were the occasional stray dogs and cats either passing by or sleeping on the sidewalk.
My only sources of light were the lampposts. Other than that, everything was dark, and nobody seemed to want to leave the bar right now, so I was all alone.
Or so I thought.
As I approached a nearby alley, my senses began to tingle. It was as if a feeling of foreboding crawled into my stomach and enveloped me with fear.
I couldn’t really explain it. I just felt like something bad was going to happen.
People always say to trust your gut instincts.
And they were right.
As I braced myself and approached the alley with quick steps, I suddenly heard something.
It was the sound of people arguing, and the noise grew the closer I got.
I froze, my heartbeat increasing.
It couldn’t be.
It was followed by angry shouts, and it grew louder by the minute.
Before I could make a run for it, I suddenly saw a man bolt out of the alley and run away, shouting something I could hear at this distance.
“I’m sorry!” he yelled desperately. “You can have her!”
I froze as a woman’s scream pierced the air for a brief moment before it was immediately cut off.
As if someone had quickly covered her mouth.
‘Oh no,’ I thought to myself in dread.
It couldn’t be…
“After him!” someone shouted, and then two men suddenly chased after the man who had just run away.
Meanwhile, three men were dragging a woman towards a black van parked across the alley. The woman struggled wildly, but the men were too strong for her.
One of them pulled a knife from his pocket and began to threaten her.
My feet felt like they were firmly glued to the ground.
‘This can’t be happening!’