207 Shopping 2.0 (1/2)
One thing that I never once even wondered would happen was that I would attract people with malicious, even criminal intent with this female body. It's just not that common of an occurrence due to the fact that Palisia has one of the lower crime rates in the nation and in the world with the more serious crimes such as organized ones being more of an issue. But...I suppose everything could happen regardless of their chances. Besides, I should've been more aware when walking around alone as a girl.
When I was being backed into the alleyway, I was seriously scared. As a girl and being outnumbered, there's really no way that I could escape. I could've tried to scream, but as soon as I would open my mouth, I'm certain that they would cover my mouth with either their hand or a cloth, muffling it and making it inaudible. I was really left with no options, and it was looking more and more likely that I would be drugged and then raped. After that, who knows what the hell would happen after that. Luckily for me, it didn't have to come to that.
”There you are,” a familiar voice called out. It was a voice that I barely remember, but it was heard recently.
I looked in the direction of the voice and saw a girl with light orange hair that moved in the air as she rapidly walked over, breaking past the barrier the three men had formed, and grabbed my hand. On her face was a frightened expression that she concealed underneath that look of genuine concern.
”The others are waiting.”
She then dragged me away from the group with hurried strides that reflected her desire to leave the vicinity of the three men. There was also hints of fear mixed into it as well. We were rather lucky that the three men did not follow in pursuit, but I believe that can be attributed also to the fact that we had made our way into the more visible areas of the street and away from the alleyway.
Her name is...Elise, and from the looks of it, she's somewhere around my age and probably still in high school. Based on the school uniform that I saw her wearing yesterday, I'm pretty sure it's for a school based in Lumina as I often see students wearing those uniforms walking around Lumina while I'm headed home from school. Since the students I've seen are all female, the school must be an all-girls school.
”I think we're safe,” Elise turned around and said while gasping for air. Our escape from the three men finally came to an end as we stopped in front of a rather busy hamburger restaurant where there were plenty of people eating in the restaurant as well as pedestrians walking by on the sidewalks. Nearby, there was also a parked police patrol car
”Thank you,” I said to her, lowering my head somewhat in gratitude.
”It's no big deal,” Elise said, smiling.
”You really saved my life back there,” I said, responding to her smile with one of my own. However, I blushed as I realized that she was still holding onto my hand. ”Um...You can let go of me now.”
Elise gazed at my flustered face with a confused look on her face before she glanced down to see what I was looking at. When she saw my hand that her's was grabbing onto, she quickly released it.
”I'm sorry,” she said.
”It's...fine,” I answered.
”It's rather surprising,” she said, trying to progress the conversation. ”It's so early in the day as well. I can't believe anyone would try something like that.”
”Yeah,” I nodded.
”Where're you going on your own?”
”I was thinking of going to the mall and buy something.”
”Oh really?” There was a look of pleasant surprise on Elise's face. ”I'm going there too. Hey...speaking of the mall, didn't I see you there earlier this week?”
”I believe so,” I nodded. ”Your face does appear familiar.”
”Since we're both going there, you wanna go together?” Elise asked. ”It'll be safer that way.”
”Sure,” I nodded, happy to know that the chances of what had just happened to me will reoccur has just dropped drastically.
”I'm Elise,” she introduced herself and reached out a slender hand for a handshake.
”My name's Alvelyn,” I brought my hand up to meet her's.