All sense eluded me as I madly chased after the fellow who had grabbed my purse. On God! The bloke moved with the speed of light! Dirty coat flapping uselessly in the air, busted shoe soles thudding against the concrete, and uneven panting.

"Give me back my purse, you thief!" I screamed, my duffel bag was slung over my shoulder, I couldn't afford to leave it behind, under the mercy of any crooked city folk, just like my money would be under that fellow's mercy if I didn't take back my purse.

"Oof!" My foot connected unevenly with an askew slab of the curb and the next thing, I was down. This left my purse hijacker with enough time to attain a reasonable distance and I knew that there was no way I was catching him now.

"My purse! Give it back you psychopath! It's mine! It's m-i-n-ne," that was where my voice cracked. I knew the loon was far out of earshot and screaming was now my last resort.

My eyes burned with unshed tears as I felt the bile rising in my throat. I was so not in control of my destiny anymore. My body churned not only from the gravity of my fall but also because of a certain lack of use-I don't remember the last time I ran like that; the adrenaline pumping, my muscles flexing, and the speed I attained were unfamiliar.

I blinked once, a tear slipped down. I blinked twice and there it was, that...refracting beam. At first, I thought it was my blurry eyes playing tricks on me but by squinting them, I was able to focus on the sparkle a few feet away from my position on the ground. And just then, I realized what it was.

I tried moving my lower limbs and the agonizing sensation that sprouted from my knee held me in place. My combined momentum when I fell should've been enough to dislocate it, however, by some miraculous occurrence, it didn't. But it did lacerate my knee, that I knew.

Finally, I was able to get over the shock of my fall and as I regained a standing position once more, I rushed to my pendant that lay on the ground. It must've slipped out of my purse when the thief ran.

Thank Heavens it did! But that couldn't solve my problem of bankruptcy right then. I exhaled deeply and my breath appeared in a small misty puff.

That was just how cold that evening had gotten and I looked toward the direction my purse thief had gone, knowing without a shadow of a doubt that there was no hope of getting my money back-my means of survival and there was no plan B. I wanted to cry again.

I wanted to go home where there would be an ointment for my scraped knee including all the bruises I'd sustained-where there would be warmth from this cold. All around me were strangers, faces I'd never seen before, and places I'd never visited before. This wasn't my home.

"...the city's a fine looking place but there's still danger at every turn..." Those were Evelynn's words on my first day.

I didn't understand it before but I did at that moment. It was an agonizingly vivid comprehension, one that couldn't be altered.

I exhaled again, rubbing both of my arms. On readjusting my bag after I'd slipped my pendant into it, my eyes sought a place to sit and were able to find a bench a few feet away next to a garbage bin.

As I walked, my limbs felt stiff and flaccid. The cold had seeped into my bones and I'd been standing for way too long. My gaze skimmed across the environment and I spotted a bridge.

Water...there was water below, which explained why it was so chilly. I rubbed my arms again as the frosty wind picked up on its course. It made me stagger a bit, given that my movements weren't sturdy either.

"Hey, watch where you're going!" The woman I accidentally bumped into, warned.

I opened my mouth to apologize, however, my voice seemed nonexistent. I watched her murmur as she brushed past me angrily.

The bench squeaked in protest against my weight and the odour from the garbage caused my stomach to churn. I shifted to the other side, however, the stench never ceased.

The sky had darkened considerably and I watched the city folk-short, fat, tall, young, old, skimpily dressed-on their various courses. Several vehicles clambered about too.

If someone had told me that morning that things would turn out this way, I would have had quite a good laugh, disregarding it as a mere joke. Evelynn was probably thinking that I was taking the next bus ride home, however, sooner or later, it would be found out that I never did make it back.

My initial plan didn't entail going back though I intended to call and now I couldn't do that either. I could only imagine the big feast Susan and her toys would be having at my expense.

They must have thought they could cover up their tracks. They must have thought they were so smart. God help me, if I ever laid eyes on Susan again, I would strangle her.

Let them just wait! If it wasn't karma, it would be Mr. M when he found everything out! Nothing could be hidden before the sun. I knew that one day, they would face their just punishment.

I wasn't their first victim, and maybe I wouldn't be their last but they were going to pay for this one way or another. All those who had suffered through their hands, everyone who had to experience traumatic things because of them... It was only a matter of time, for the evil that men do live with...

My hand was now gripping my dust-covered dress tightly, forming a fist. I was shaking with anguish and angry tears dribbled down. I had been so worked up seething, that I hadn't noticed that someone had settled in beside me.

From my peripheral vision, I could see the figure leaning towards me with the semblance of a smile as he said, "You been sitting here for a while now."

So...

"And I was just wondered why. You looked trouble and I have to ask myself to come to you and now I say, what praytell disturbing a fine young lady like y-"

I swerved my head to face him before he could complete his grammatical blunder. He practically jumped out of the bench after he had seen my not-so-fine features.

"Holy cow! What is wrong with your face? Too much ugliness," He huffed in his unpleasant gruff voice before he turned and scrambled away.

Superficial idiot! In a different circumstance, his grammatical blunder would be amusing. In several livid motions, I loosened my hair from its braid, leaving it to form a curtain over my grotesque face.

I sighed, all these people had destinations, shelter-a roof over their heads, and probably cash. I, on the other hand, had none of these and this left a feeling of hopelessness and terror in its wake.

Hopeless...terror...it always came down to this. Every time. Every single time I was scorned and humiliated by Geraldine, I felt it. Even in the estate, after all those pranks and insults, I felt it.

And now, out in the cold, lonely on the bench with absolutely no means of survival, it stuck like a second skin, like a looming shadow, taunting me, jesting. It always came down to this...

Within the estate walls, I was safe. Never truly knew what lay beyond it. The city was beautiful with its bright lights and nightlife, it still was, but I just couldn't see that at the moment.

All around me were dark, tall, looming buildings and a hostile environment.

My hand found my medallion and squeezed. I looked down at it, wishing hard on all the good luck it could offer. The passerby who saw me speaking to the metal probably thought I had lost it, but in a position like mine, you'd grasp onto anything that offered even the slightest bit of solace.

And maybe, I had lost it. After all, my mind teetered on the edge of oblivion and it took all my willpower to not break down crying like a baby even though I had every right to.

Today was...unexpected. In fact, nothing in my life was ever planned; the fire, me coming here, absolutely nothing. There were several things to expect though, one of which was becoming a hobo.

I could see it in my future; me in tattered clothes, homeless-not that I wasn't already, pallid and ashen-faced. That future wasn't very bright.

"Ughh!" I groaned, my stomach was begging for food. It had been doing so for the past hour as it made all sorts of noises. It wasn't to blame though, for the pleasing aroma of food from the restaurant just nearly opposite me was.

I drooled as I stared, as much as I could not afford anything on their menu, I could not starve. I'd give anything for a meal right then. Bringing the medallion to my face, I pressed my lips against it. It better not fail me now.

A bell dinged as I entered which got me some passive stares. My maids' uniform looked presentable enough and my face was fairly covered and bent. At least I wouldn't be arousing any useless attention, however, with Bambi's beanie currently on my head and my rugged-looking duffel bag, I just might.

The pleasant scent overtook my senses and the food was like a siren. I was able to find an empty chair, luckily. The decor looked fascinating although the food would taste better than fascinating in my mouth.

There was only one thing to do, it was to wait, and that I did. At a point, I picked up the menu and scanned through it-more like salivating at every item there was.

I could feel my insides quaking with a need for edibles.

"May I take your order? What would you like to order, Miss?" Someone's voice resonated.

That was what stirred my attention. "Huh?"

Before me stood a woman, petite and lithe. From her ensemble, it was easy to deduce that she was one of the waitresses. My gaze somehow diverted from her to some kid some tables away that was having steak.

Subconsciously, I licked my lips, envisioning savouring that piece of meat, chomping down on its tenderness, all the delicious flavours washing through me...how so hungry I was.

"Uum Miss..." She tapped me, jolting me back to my senses.

I shook my head, my grip tightening on the menu. I couldn't risk her realizing just how cash-strapped I was.

"Waiter!" Someone called from behind obviously in need of service. Fortunately, that had her backing off as she made haste to go attend to the customer.

After going through the menu for a while, I left it in a standing position and rested my head behind it. Soon enough, I dozed off...

I woke up hours later to someone tapping me and my tummy grumbling audibly. The place was already empty and I was the only occupant.

"We're about to close so y-"

I guess the very words died on her tongue when she saw my face fully and stepped back. I pulled the duffel bag closer and blinked several times to get over the grogginess of sleep.

"What the hell?" A lad spoke this time, probably just arriving before he turned to see his comrades' expressions.

My tummy grumbled again and I could see the leftovers in the container one of them carried.

"How did she even get in here with no one noticing?" He asked again.

"What are those things on her face? Is she diseased? Are we going to get it too?" One of the women asked.

"She just has really nasty scars, Maia. Stop talking like that, she's still a human being." The second one said. She was the same one that had asked for my order.

"Whatever. Pay up and get out!" The male barked at me.

"She didn't order anything, Keith. And from the looks of it, she doesn't have much either." The same girl said.

"Are you seriously pitying this street rat?" Keith inquired, eyeing me with a condescending look.

Street rat? Has it really come down to this?

"Pl-please...just let me have some of the leftovers. I'm really hungry, I'll leave right after."

Even the tone of my voice stunned me, it was the voice of someone who had absolutely nothing; the hobo in me was making itself known.

The second girl, Maia, who had called me diseased just stood there, speechless.

"What's going on there?!" A strong baritone voice resounded from somewhere in the restaurant.

From the way they reacted, I knew this was someone they feared; the owner.

"We're not giving anything, rat. Now get out!" He told me before facing his coworkers. "If Gary finds us with her, you know what will happen."

"Please?" I begged, my pride long gone-at least, whatever was left of it.

I watched Keith's and Maia's gazes focused on the third, awaiting her decision. Her lower lip quivered as she looked between them and me. I knew she had a good heart.

Keith sighed and left us when the girl took the container from Maia and began piling a generous amount of leftovers for me, but not without accusing her of being too softhearted.

"I will never forget your kindness, thank you," I told her when I was escorted outside.

"Just go," she told me, refusing to meet my eyes as she stepped back into the restaurant.

* * *
* *

I coughed, dragging my feet along. It was the third day since I was laid off and so far, I'd survived on garbage food. Literally. I never thought my life would be like this.

My nights were spent in alleys and last night, I had to fight off a cat for space. I was still in the same maid's uniform, however, a kind woman let me have a bath in her home and I left right after with my trusty duffel bag.

At the moment, I was in search of a sleeping spot since the night was fast encroaching.

All the hairs on my neck stood ramrod straight as I looked around the lonely street that I somehow stumbled into. I felt like I was being followed and looked back again. Then, I walked into a wall...or something that felt like it. The force sent me stumbling backwards and someone grabbed my arms.

In an instant, I was surrounded by brawny men.

I tried to scream, however, a hand quickly covered my mouth. One brushed the hair out of my face and harrumphs of disgust followed.

"This one doesn't look like much but she has the essentials." Their leader murmured, blowing some cigarette smoke into my face.

I coughed. I knew what they wanted with me, however, I decided that I would not be a victim of such.

"The police!" I managed to muffle out. "Officer! Officer! Over here!"

At that moment when all of them had been thoroughly stunned, I was able to slip out of my restraints and took off running.

Yet, with my ten-second head start, they still caught up to me, owing to their long legs and numbers. After a few punches to the stomach and a few slaps to the face, I was suddenly regretting my previous choices.

"You b*t*h!" Their leader, a brutal-looking fellow with an offensive cigarette breath, just slightly different from the type that Mr. M usually wreaked, shot at me.

Then he threw the cigarette beneath his feet before he looked me over with lust-filled eyes.

Despite the sharp pains in my abdomen and my stinging cheeks, I struggled and thrashed around.

"Hey!" They all turned to see who had made the utterance.

"Stop that Kade!"

That must've been their leader's name. That second voice sounded familiar though I just couldn't place it.

"Aren't the brothel girls enough? You gotta stop harassing women all over the place. It's not cool, man!" That voice said again.

It was dark then, so I strained my eyes to see clearly. Kade stared the newcomers down until he signalled his boys and they let go of me.

"Ya gotta thank your lucky stars, girlie!" Kade mumbled at me through gritted teeth.

I fell to my knees at once, those punches were very effective. "Oh God..."

"Hey, are you okay?" That same voice said as his hand landed on my shoulder.

I let my eyes trace the hand upwards and then I came face to face with the man who had saved me from such an awful fate.

No way! How could it be...?

His eyes widened in recognition just as mine did. I blinked a few more times just to ascertain that I was not having hallucinations.

"Rina?"

"JJ?"

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Anyone have an idea who JJ is? There are clues literally everywhere...

Moral of this chapter; Everyone has an inner hobo.

Please don't forget to vote and comment,

Neon😉.