Turning around, they saw five differently skin toned black men. The one with the darkest tone wore a Knick's jersey and had a pistol pointing at them. Slowly the five surrounded them.

"Slowly remove the packs and slowly put that crossbow down," ordered the Knick's wearer.

A lightly skin toned man with a knife grabbed Kate.

Touching the blade against her throat, "You're going to be real fun to get to know," firmly gripping her breast.

"Let's see what's in your pockets," said the fat black man.

Rath was reaching into his coat pocket.

"No, let me check," remarked the fat man walking towards Rath, "You might be carrying," stuffing his hand into Rath's coat pocket, "What's this?" pulling out a small cylinder, "Is this one of those nudie picture peepers?"

"You got me," remarked Rath, "The real thing couldn't satisfy me. Just push the button."

Holding one end to his eye, "Just push?"

"Correct, just push."

Pushing the button, "Ahhh!" dropping the fully extended bo staff and clinching his eye.

Catching the bo staff and grabbing the wrist, Rath slung the fat man into the Knicks jersey. The last two were surprised. Rath's boot went into the gut of one. Then his bo went across the other's temple, knocking him onto the ground unconscious. The one clinching his stomach had the back of his head rammed by Rath's elbow.

Using his bo knocked the gun from the Knicks's hand then kicked it into a storm drain. Rath 's foot caught the Knicks under the chin.

Whirling a chain, the fat one whipped it at Rath. Wrapping around his wrist, Rath swung the bo against the fat thug's leg. As the fat thug grabbed his leg, Rath wrapped the chain around his fist. The chain covered fist slammed into the thug's face.

Now Rath's attention was on Kate's predicament. She watched along with the panicking knife wielder as Rath twirled his bo like a propeller.

"Back off, man!" threaten the knife wielder, "Slit the bitch's throat!"

Rath tilted his head left to right.

Kate felt the thug's breath against the back of her neck.

Grabbing and rubbing her crotch, "Oh, the bloodlust and the violence turns me on," swaying her hips.

"Stop it bitch!"

Her tongue ran against knife holding hand. She stroked the hand gripping her breast.

"Oh yes bring the insults," she moaned.

Slowly pushing the away from her throat. Turning, she stared into the eyes of the knife wielder.

Running her tongue up his face, "Know what will make this a special moment?"

"No."

"This," driving her knee into his hardened penis.

Returning the cylinder to his pocket, "Learned a few new tricks during our break up," Rah remarked.

"Please," commented Kate, "think I enjoyed that."

"Obviously, he didn't."

Breaking into laughter, she couldn't believe Rath kept his poker face. They used handcuffs found on the gangbangers to secure them to railings, lampposts, pretty much anything.

"Sure about leaving them," commented Kate.

Staring at them, "Yes, other scavengers will find them," answered Rath walking away.

Noticing a bulge in the jacket pocket of the knife wielder, her hand went into the pocket and pulled out a pack of cigarettes.

"Hey give that back, bitch!" yelled the knife wielder.

Her foot went into his crotch. She quickened her pace to catch up with Rath.

"Sure you don't want to use the tunnel?" asked Rath after she caught up.

"Yes," putting the pack into her shirt pocket.

"Fine, we are going to need a place to stay for the night."

So because she didn't want to use the tunnel, this apartment was temporary. Sitting on this toilet and staring at the cigarette, she couldn't recall why she took the pack.

How long has it been since her last puff? She lost track. Wait, it was when she and Hector were together. She did quit when her and Rath were lovers, now they're just traveling companions. She believed his usefulness was gone, now he's all she had from her old life from another dimension.

Staring at the three still in the pack, they like Rath represented her old life. Both could kill her, but Rath's an improvement.

Taking the other cigarettes out crushed them in her hand. Standing up, her threw them into the toilet. Pushing the handle down, she watched them go in a clockwise motion down into the plumbing. Putting the seat cover down after they went out of her sight, she discarded the pack in the wastebasket. Turning off the light, she walked towards her bedroom.

Heading back to her room stopped and stared at the back of a couch. Walking over towards it, leaned over the back and saw a sleeping Rath. She studied him. He was dressed head to toe in black. She remembers his child scar on his forehead above his right eye. Staring at him, one could underestimate him. She knew enough not to do that.

Removing herself from the top of the couch, her eyes looked around the apartment they borrowed.

"I miss my trailer," she thought.

Returning to bed, she had to get ready to go across a bridge in the morning. Try to think happy thoughts, but the nightmares continued.