Page 152 of The Last Fire

“I'm coming!” I sprint towards the subway, feeling the fine rain hitting my face, but I don't care if I'm drenched by the time I get there. I have to save their skins; otherwise, Tita will be mad, and I can't bear to see her like that. She's like a second mom to me, and Steph is like a younger sister. We're family.

I arrive at the cafe with the help of Google Maps and take a shortcut past some buildings that trigger vague memories. I think I've been around here before, but there's no time to dwell on anything rather than how I'll deal with these troublemakers who seem to have gotten into a conflict with a street gang, one of them being Japanese, I believe.

“Okay, did these two cause you trouble?” I pant and place my hands on my knees when I finally reach the cafe.

“Are you their lawyer? Where’s your suit?” The guy who seemed to be the gang's ringleader, and apparently the problem because there's soup splattered on his chest, squints his eyes and mocks me, clearly irritated.

“I'm their older sister.”

“Well, I hope you know how to get them out of this mess because they’ve just ruined a £10,000 suit.”

I nearly choke on my saliva. I can barely afford to breathe next to the bank, where on earth could I get that kind of money?

“I can wash it,” I offer, because that's the first thing that crosses my mind.

“Are you crazy?! The suit is completely ruined. The high temperature of the soup caused deep burns and stains. The fabric's texture is compromised!”

“And that can be fixed by beating up the kids? Come on, now. You look more mature than that.”

“Spare me your cheap moralizing. Pay up or step aside.” One of the men steps forward, quite aggressively. “I'll break the kid's neck.”

I haven't been in a situation like this in a while, and I've probably lost my touch, but even with my skills up to date, I'd still be outnumbered. I sigh and refuse to back down.

“I don't have money, but maybe we can work something out. How about I wash that suit... in private?”

Damn it, Becca!

“Really?” The bald man grins and takes a better look at me, then comes closer and pulls the zipper down, revealing my generous cleavage under the pink blouse that had clung to my skin due to the rain that had completely drenched me. “No matter how big these tits are, they're still not enough to cover the damage.”

“I assure you, I’m worth way more than 10,000 pounds,” I refuse to let them see I’m trembling, putting my hands behind my back. The men start elbowing each other, and I realize this is no longer child's play.

“Are you sure your pussy is tight enough to make up the difference?” the man grabs my chin, and I can't help but flinch, remembering that pig from the boxing match.

“Let me show you. I know a place nearby,” I grab his wrist and gently stroke the inside with my thumb.

“Are you making fun of me? What are you up to?”

“Just one fun night. Give me your phone,” I see he's been holding a phone. “Let me show you the address.” I reach out, and the man hands me the phone, suspiciously but still interested.

I start searching for a hotel nearby, just for show, and find one three streets away.

Love Motel

Bingo! My heart is racing, and I spot an ugly, black caterpillar on the table, near the untouched soup bowl. I feel nauseous, but I'm ready to overcome this fear, just to get out of this mess.

I hate bugs!

“Here it is,” I return the phone, and when the man stares at the map, the crushed centipede on his phone screen probably catches him by surprise because he screams and drops the phone.

The others start to panic, and they are distracted enough for me to make a move.

“Run!” I shout to the two behind me and sprint towards the hotel three streets away, whose address I had memorized.

There must be security there, and they must help us somehow. I run as fast as I can, but Steph and the boy are slower, and the men don't give up easily; they keep following us. One street away, the boy hops onto a delivery scooter and takes Steph on his back, so they're about to lose me, and I slow down to catch my breath, thinking they might give up now that they've lost those two. However, it seems they've set their sights on me now because they won't stop chasing me, so I push myself harder and keep running.

There are still too many of them, and I'm too weak to beat them. I have to go back to that damn gym; that's my main regret as my legs sprint through London's narrow and slippery streets.

Keep fighting, Becca! I encourage myself to run faster, towards the hotel.

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