He pulled something out of his jacket and pointed it above him as a loud bang ricocheted between the buildings.
He had a gun.
Sorry, let me reemphasize that.
The man had a GUN.
'Why didn't he just use that to shake me?' I thought offhandedly.
But despite this fact, I pushed the thought out and moved onward as everyone else dropped to the ground or ran off the street, screaming in fear as the shot sounded and leaving a free, open road.
The man dropped his arm and made his way more slowly this time. He probably thought he scared me off for good with that last trick and can just waltz right out of here. He was sorely mistaken.
'Don't think don't think don't think...' I repeated the mantra over and over to keep my head on and focus at the situation at hand. Any other thought may ultimately seal my fate, or worse, someone else in a matter of seconds.
The trigger happy thief sauntered down the open road to freedom, shooting off a few more warning shots to deter the few (not including me as I tried so hard to ignore the stab of fear that struck my heaving heart) that had other ideas as he made his way across. Those still on the sidewalks were still fleeing to get away from the lunatic and onto safe grounds. The man may be cocky but he was practically wired on a delicate string that even a mouse could set him off.
So you can imagine my fear when the resident door right next to the sandwich shop creaked open, startling him. His body reacted before his brain could think and I watched in horrified slow mo as he pointed the direction of the gun at the newcomer.
People were screaming out someone's name but it was all background noise in my head when I saw him turn to face the hidden bystander. All I could think of was stopping this guy before he does something I would make him deeply regret.
My fear swiftly changed into determination. 'Not on my watch.' I booked it with everything I got on silent but swift feet. There was no master plan to go on, only my courage and an underlying layer of fear and 'what ifs' churning in my mind and body. All I really knew was this, he had to be stopped otherwise I would never forgive myself for not stopping him sooner.
Good thing about being small is that you barely make a sound whenever you want to. Kind of like a ninja.
Or a Hobbit.
'Here goes nothing.'
He didn't hear me coming and caught sight of me from his peripheral view, but it was too late as I dove for a head lock and tucked my legs as I used the momentum to swing around behind his body like a pole. A bullet went loose but luckily the shot went wide toward the roof. His balance teetered from the impact but his body was strong enough to take the unexpected weight.
"What the-" He cried out, surprised by the unexpected force.
I held firm and landed behind him after a full loop with his head tucked in a tight clamp in my arms. His body was bent back in an arch as I held him in my infamous 'backwards headlock'. And judging by his constant shaking and feet shuffling, this was beyond his physical limit of flexibility. His face puffed up like a red balloon bordering on purple as he vigorously pummeled my arms with the butt of his handgun. I grit my teeth. It hurt, but it was easily ignored thanks to the adrenaline.
"Honestly, I would think you know better but obviously you don't." I deadpanned like I was scolding a preteen while teaching him how to wrestle. He struggled harder but his uncomfortable and rather suffocating position remained the same.
I roll my eyes at his desperate attempt and tightened my grip until he stilled. "Now you listen here. The next you get the urge to steal from an old woman or feel like misbehaving in ANY other way. Ignore it. Or I promise you," I leaned forward next to his head, a raspy ghost of a whisper in his ear so low and dangerous, I could hear his toes curl. "I will make you regret it."
The threat sounded convincing to my ears even if I couldn't make good on it. I actually thought it would work.
For a second it did.
That was until I caught that crazed look in his eye and the gleam of the gun aimed at my side. I pulled away in time, throwing him to the ground as he fired a bullet. The metal trajectory missed by an inch but I wasn't out of frying pan just yet. I closed in just as he got his bearings to raise his gun again and kicked it out of his hands, straight up in the air.
He swore to himself and went for a wild hay-maker just as I had expected and ducked the attack. I immediately set out my assault with a lightning jab followed by a right punch and a heavy left hook to his side, cracking his ribs. Then I pivoted an uppercut straight into his diaphragm, knocking the wind right out of him as he doubled over from the pain. Stubborn fool was back up to finally guard himself. Too bad for him I wasn't feeling so honorable at the moment to let him mount a defense after he almost shot me.
Not a blink later, I leaped for a swift kick to his jaw coupled with a spinning clean low sweep, effectively taking him down but not enough to knock him out. In that same smooth motion, I swiftly spun back to my feet, never stopping as I tossed off my black poncho/button-up scarf and raised my other hand, catching the fallen pistol and bringing it down on him as I made the full turn around. Jason Statham would be so proud.
"Don't." I'd be grinning myself silly imagining how I looked just then had the situation not been so dire. Still, so John Watson indeed. Or in my case, Joan Watson, which sounds more fitting.
He froze on command at the sight of the gun aimed at his chest. All went stock still and even the remaining crowd stopped breathing in anticipation. The only sound that could be heard was our labored breaths and the faint echo of cars in the distance. My steps cracked loudly in the semi quiet street despite my light feet as I approached the frightened former gunman.
"I guess I shouldn't be surprised you weren't going to listen." I sigh disappointingly. "I said I would make you regret it, and I did. So what did you hope to accomplish by shooting me? Everyone here," I gesture to the crowd. "Are all witnesses and have seen your face. Killing me would only add more charges to the list you're racking up. Well?"
His voice was breathy due to the lack of air and his eyes gleamed with unadulterated malice. "You son of a b-"
I fired a shot right between his legs, extremely close to his precious family jewels, effectively silencing the rest of his rant and eliciting a large quantity of gasps and screams from the audience. I paid no attention to them and frowned at the man, not amused. "Please. There are children present at the moment, so I suggest you watch what you say," I pause for a second and my eyes flicker. "...Eugene."
His eyes went wide. "How do you know that-?"
"Unimportant." I nod to the two men who were almost brave enough to step in earlier and they got my message. Somehow three ended up coming my way but one broke off halfway to go inside the building that was almost shot at. Must be to check on the residents.
The two men move in and grab each arm of the convict who went without much of a fight but he didn't stop glaring at me. I let the gun dangle on my gloved trigger finger when they apprehended him and called forth another man close by to take it from me. I made sure to tilt my hat down to hide my eyes as he neared (the fighting caused it to slip downward but enough for me to see Eugene's movements). All of a sudden, the air cackled with uproars of cheers and thunder clapping applause. A few whistled here and there along with screams of appreciation. Under my burning cheeks, I nod briefly to the public and spoke to the man I offered to hold the gun for me, face still partially hidden. "I presume the authorities have already been informed of this little incident and are on their way?"
"Yes ma'am." He replies.
"Good." I did a quick sweep of the crowd as though looking for something. "Is everyone alright? No one got shot?" I whispered lowly.
His lips tilted in a small smile much to my relief. "Everyone is safe."
I drew a long breath. At least the stray bullet didn't cause any casualties or injuries to anyone. I stretched my neck until it popped. That was quite a work out. It's not every day you fight a criminal holding a gun at you point blank and win to live and tell about it.
"Young lady?"
I face the officer again with a guarded look. "Yes?"
He smiles broadly. "What you did out there was..."
Courageous? Amazing? Brave?
"Bloody stupid."
I blink hard. Well...wasn't expecting that.
More so because he was still smiling despite his insulting me. He's almost as whack as the thief.
"Thank…you?"
That's when I remembered what I came here for and searched in circles until found the old lady's bag thrown aside against the curb not far away. I gather my poncho as well and slipped it on to call forth some lost warmth. London chills were creeping all over me.
I wasn't very keen to be around when the Yarders come to investigate the scene. You honestly don't think they would leave me with just a warning for firing an illegal firearm at a man because he was about to curse in front of several young innocents, did you?
Though I highly doubt you could call any of them innocent these days. So in other words: moot point. And before you ask, no, I wasn't particularly thinking about the consequences at the time and, quite frankly, didn't care about it. All I know was that I needed to get away if I wanted to keep seeing full sunshine for the next 24 hours.
"Hold him down until the cops arrive." I tell the men. And just as I iterated those words, the wailing sounds of sirens reached hearing distance and were closing in. Everyone's attention was drawn away for a moment so I stole the opportunity to escape and slip away. But when they started screaming for some reason, I panicked, thinking they saw me and picked up the pace until I was out of sight. I hadn't seen the distinctively tall man exit the building and onto the street where I was standing before.
It wasn't until I saw the window panes of a little hole in the wall restaurant did I come to an earth-shattering realization of where I was not a few minutes ago.