Suddenly, the alley burst into commotion.
Curses mingled with the sounds of a fierce fight. Every dull thud of fist striking flesh hit the eardrums like a heavy hammer.
Amid several agonized screams, blood splattered onto the ground, forming shocking pools of dark red beneath the dim light.
Then the fierce sounds gradually subsided, replaced by the thugs' hoarse wails, as though they were sobbing over their failed act of violence.
Blonde sat collapsed on the ground, trembling all over, her eyes filled with terror and bewilderment. Her breathing was rapid and ragged, and she clutched her chest with both hands, as though that could ease the fear deep inside her.
"Thank you, thank you..."
Her voice trembled, thick with tears. Every word seemed squeezed out of her throat, filled with the relief of having survived.
At that moment, the black-clad figure a short distance away was like a ray of light, searing himself into her heart and becoming the most unforgettable sight of her life.
The man in the black bodysuit stood quietly nearby, his figure looking especially tall in the darkness.
His voice was a little deep, yet it conveyed an unparalleled sense of reassurance:
"Go home, ma'am. Head toward the mouth of the alley. A taxi will pass by in two minutes. Take a bath when you get home and get a good night's sleep. It's all over now."
The woman gazed at her mysterious rescuer. Although black fabric covered the upper half of his face, his low, firm voice somehow gave her courage.
She drew a deep breath, braced both hands against the wall, and struggled to her feet, her body still trembling slightly.
She bent down, picked up her dirt-stained handbag, and gently brushed off the dust, as though trying to brush away the nightmare