“God, it’s cold out here, isn’t it?” Niko thought to himself, whistling with his hands in his pockets as he exited the back of the movie theater. He’d just watched the latest Friday the 13th flick. They really should’ve stopped making these after around the 25th. I get the nostalgia bait, but how are you gonna star Jason Momoa and Jason Statham as Jason? A deuteragonist, really? Jason Statham did make a good slasher villain, but that’s not the point. “By the powers vested in me, I now pronounce you man and knife.” (real line btw).

Munching on a Chipotle burrito, Niko walked down the grimy back alleys next to the theater. He’d been starving after the movie, so he hit up the stand out back for a late-night snack.

“Fuck, bro, where’s the meat? Pause. Who’s that over there?“

A thick cockney accent cut through the night air. “Oi, lay’t chu tink you can wak n’ me streets an’ not pay me mah reverence? Cough up da knit, yea? No lady, da purse. Giv’meh tha purse.”

“Yeah, take it off nice and slow, lady. Me and Barney here wanna see it all while you hand it up.”

Niko paused. The scene in front of him didn’t make any sense to him. A woman, back against the wall, scared shitless. Two men, one fat and tall, the other wiry and lanky. What were they thinking threatening her in a place like this? Was this some kind of movie set? What kind of weird public stunt was this?

“I don’t want no trouble, sir. Just take my money and leave me please. I got a daughter at home.”

“Not if you don’t listen to us, miss. Now, show us what you’re workin’ with. Hands on the wall, yeah?“

Niko walked a little closer, taking another bite of his burrito. “Yo, lady, you” Crunch. He paused mid-sentence, still chewing. “You’re… wait, one sec. Let me finish this.” Crunch. “Alright.” He swallowed the last bite, wiped the red salsa off his shirt, then looked up, noticing the woman’’s tearful eyes. “You good?“

“Hey, mind your business, kid. This ain’t got nothin’ to do with you, alright?“

Niko chewed for a second, wiped his mouth with his sleeve, and licked his thumb. “I think it does, good sir.” He raised a brow. “Fuck. You made me spill some of my—”. His brows furrowed, a deep irritation settling in. “You’re really gonna stand here and fuck with her? Fuck with me?”

His hand clenched into a fist. “Leave. Now. Before I finish you like this burrito.” he set the bag down carrying the rest of his food

The thug with the knife laughed, but Niko wasn’t smiling. He wiped the salsa off his cheek with his thumb and plopped it into his mouth. “Got it?“

The man sneered. “Or what? You gonna handle both of us, kid? I'd like to see that.”

Niko gave a dry yawn, showing complete indifference. “Alright. I’m done talking. You just gonna stand there, or—?”

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“Why you—”

The big man charged, and the second thug raised the knife.

The man lunged at Niko, throwing a wild punch aimed straight at his head. Niko sidestepped, feeling the rush of air as the fist missed by inches. Grabbing the man’s arm at the shoulder, he used his momentum to sling him to the ground. Before the thug could react, Niko drove two quick, brutal punches into his nose. Blood splattered onto the pavement as a second attacker charged—a wiry man wielding a knife, swinging erratically with no rhythm or control.

Niko weaved back, then again, staying just out of reach as the blade slashed the empty air. The thug pressed forward, forcing Niko to stay light on his feet, balancing on the edge of his heels as he hopped backward again and again. He was waiting for the inevitable overextension, the moment the attacker lunged too far—just like the big man before him.

And then it happened.

The knife sliced through Niko’s shirt in a jagged Z-shape, barely nicking his skin. He exhaled sharply, twisting his body with the motion. As he landed on the balls of his feet, he caught the thug’s wrist with both hands, wrenching it at an angle that forced him to release the weapon. The knife clattered to the ground, spinning left, then right, before coming to a dead stop.

In a fluid motion, Niko kicked the blade up with his foot, caught it midair, and drove it into the man’s thigh. A sharp, agonized wail tore through the night as the thug crumpled to his knees.

“Quit crying, you won’t die,” Niko muttered, shaking his head. “Now you and your friend, get going. Ruined my best dress shirt… Now I have to buy a new one.” He waved them off with an impatient flick of his hand.

The big guy—Barney, as Niko had mentally dubbed him—helped the wiry man to his feet.

“Oh, and don’t pull that knife out,” Niko added. “It’s in there pretty deep. You won’t bleed out, but you might pass out just from looking at it. You’ll be fine. Probably.”

Without another word, the two men limped into the alleyway, swallowed by the darkness.

Niko exhaled, rolling his shoulders before turning toward the woman he had just saved. She stood frozen, brown eyes wide, as if unsure he was speaking to her. The night breeze lifted strands of her long, curly hair, making the white top and red skirt she wore sway gently.

“What’s your name, miss? Did they hurt you?”

She hesitated before shaking her head. “Oh—um, yes! I mean, no, they didn’t do anything to me before you got here. I’m just so glad you showed up… I don’t know what I would have done if not for you. They were saying some really awful things…”

Niko shrugged. “Street thugs.”

The woman clutched her arms, still rattled, but a grateful smile crossed her lips. “My name is Mary. Do you live around here?”

“No, just passing through,” Niko said.

She bit her lip, hesitating before asking, “May I get your number? I mean, I’d love to treat you to something for what you did for me. It really means a lot. Most people around here would’ve just ignored me, but not you.”

Niko blinked. He hadn’t expected that. “Oh—uh, yeah, sure.” He scratched the back of his head, cheeks warming slightly. “Name’s Niko, by the way. Here, let me get your number. Call me if you ever run into trouble like that again.”

He handed her his phone, and she quickly typed in her number.

“And—done,” she said, smiling as she passed it back. “So… yeah. Shoot me a call sometime.”

“Will do,” Niko said. “Be safe, alright?”

She nodded before turning away, but not before flashing him one last smile.

“I’ll try.”

Niko watched her disappear into the night before looking down at his phone, a smirk creeping onto his face. She was cute.

He whistled to himself, hands stuffed into his pockets as he made his way down the empty road. The night air was cool, and the quiet hum of the city filled the space around him. He reached the crosswalk, pressing the button and waiting as the red light held him back.

I didn’t save her just for her number… but, honestly, it did feel good getting it. I should really call her some—

The light turned green, giving him the right of way. He stepped off the curb—

BAM.

A truck slammed into him at full speed.