Prostitute
The grunts were repulsive. Yet, the weighty thump of an umbrella handle was enough to put an end to it. Hand covering where he had been hit, the man spun around, ready to attack whoever had disturbed him.
To his surprise, he saw a woman on the other side of the alley. The other side being only centimetres away, as the passage was quite narrow. She was not the kind of woman he expected to see in this part of the city, a grimace forming as he scrutinised her appearance.
"What do you think you're doin'?" he yelled, pointing across at her. "You better be on your way unless you want t' end up like her."
Even in the dark, her eyes were shining like the daytime sky. But there was a fury in them that was horrifying to see. Taking a step back, the man bumped into the girl, who pushed him away with a word of warning. She had covered herself to be somewhat modest, having heard the voice of someone else.
"This girl is not even an adult," the woman said, her usual politeness threatening. "And you dare to take advantage of her circumstance."
The man blinked across, a little slow in his inebriation. "Wha' did I say, lady? Mind your own business or else…"
"Or else what?"
Her snappish response made him pause before he took a determined step toward her. "Or else I'll have t' teach you a lesson."
Before he could take another step, he began to shrink, his protests becoming shriller and shriller until it was no more than a squeak. She looked down at him, tapping her foot against the cobbled ground.
"If you insist on acting like a rat then you shall be one," she told him, hands on hips. "Men of your kind are shameful. When I come back tomorrow, I hope you have learnt your lesson else there will be hell to pay and I will summon a policeman at once."
The young girl spoke across. "Thanks, miss…"
"And you, young lady…" Mary gestured for her to follow, already making her way out of the alley. The dust and grime didn't dare touch her garments. "You are coming with me."