Julie hurried along the street, hugging her coat close against the incessant drizzle. Of all the nights for her car to not start, this was the worst one. It was late, there were no cabs, and she was miles from home. Still, better to walk than to stay in on spot all night and be a tempting target for the first passing weirdo. At least, that was what she tried to tell herself, but she got the feeling that she was being watched. Deciding to act, and tightening her grip on the can of mace in her purse, she ducked into the nearest alleyway, and waited.

"Boo!"

Julie jumped and screamed. Lurking just in the shadows of the alley was the biggest man she had ever seen who was sporting a truly evil smile.

"W...whaddya want, mister?"

"Maybe, your purse," the man replied thoughtfully. "Maybe..." A huge hand came down and grabbed her shoulder, "you!"

Julie screamed again. The mace in her purse was long forgotten as the purse fell from her grasp. The man pulled her closer and forcibly kissed her. She tried to fight back, but he pinned her arms to her sides and effectively terminated all struggles.

"Oh yes," he mumbled, pressing himself closely to the frightened woman trapped in his arms.

"Oh, I don't think so."

The man looked up from his prey to see a lanky looking individual casually leaning on the wall that marked one side of the alley.

"Heh, heh, heh! What do we have here?" the big man leered. "Hors d'ouvres?"

"That's right," the other replied. "Of course, too much rich food can give you indigestion. Let the girl go, and we all walk away from here happy."

"Oh no, I don't think so pal."

"You know," the lanky one responded, "I was just *hoping* you'd say that." He detached himself from the wall and walked towards the thug. "So why don't we see if you can do anything other than pick on those much smaller and weaker than yourself." The final words were spoken softly but somehow seemed so much more frightening.

In spite of himself, the would-be rapist gulped. He released Julie and she crumpled to the ground, a terrified bundle. Then he turned his attention to the other man.

"I can squash you little man - an' I'm goin' ta enjoy it!"

"Really." Two syllables that seemed to imply whole worlds of contempt.

"You are *so* dead." The bigger man pulled out a wicked looking hunting knife and jabbed forwards.

Laughing, almost, the other jumped back just far enough to avoid the lunge. "Know something - scum never changes. I like that." Then from beneath his long coat, he pulled a sword.

"Ho-ly shit!"

With a whimper, the thug dropped his knife and tried to back away, but the man with the sword kept advancing. "You can't run away yet, I want to play," he murmured. "After all, you'd have killed her, right? Only fair, I get the same chance and you get no chance."

"Awe hell, man, I...I meant no harm...I...I...I..."

With a crunch, he backed up into the end wall of the alley. "Too bad - looks like you lost." The lanky man drove the sword, hilt first, into the thug's face once, twice, three times. The big man's body slid bonelessly down the wall, dead. "Scum." He turned back to Julie, who was staring at him with wide eyes. "You got far to go?" he asked. Reflexively, the frightened woman shook her head. "You going to be OK? He didn't hurt you?" Another convulsive shake of the head. "Want me to walk you the rest of the way?" A third shake of the head. The lanky man nodded - almost as if he was expecting that. "Well...you get going then - and don't stop till you get home. Right?"

Julie didn't need to be told twice. She took to her heels and ran the rest of the way home, vowing that she was never going to walk home late at night ever again.