Chapter 27: Chapter 27

One-on-one I could beat the crap out. Two together... is a little difficult but not so tough. But I'm faced with not 2 or even 3...but five people. Five dangerously looking, mean-faced, probably weight-lifting bikers. A girl must know her limit. I'm no wonder girl, and I don't even fancy the idea of me coming out of this scot-free. Still, I must try and hope that I can handle it. Hope, to live and take my revenge.

I scanned the alley, locating anything I could use in my fight. Before I could take note of the inventory, they pounced on me. It was harsh... it was painful...it was brutal. I gave everything I got, not letting them pin me down. Because I know...I know that once I'm pinned, I'm done for. My knuckles are bleeding, I have scratch marks and I lost count of my bruises. I cannot get them to me. I will not.

As the fight progressed, things got ugly. It's clearly visible in their faces, they thought it's easy picking. They didn't expect a fight. Maybe because of this, their intention changed. I could clearly see when it happened.

Shorty shouted to his friends, ' fuck guys, she is a feisty one. I wonder how she would taste. What do you say?'

Bulgy one who is probably the alpha of this group replied, ' No. Remember your orders. Only tinkering.'

In between this conversation, I tried to run. That was my second mistake. First being not trying it in the first place. Or entering the alley. I could have my pick, I committed that many. Simple, silly mistakes. Not done by a girl of my training. Which could cost me my life! I was so full of overconfidence.

Shorty was adamant. He slowly but surely involved others, leaving the leader against the group. The sigh from bulgy is like a nail to my coffin. 'Fine', he barked.

Could I survive this? I never thought I would be a victim of gang rape. Can I live after this? Do I want too after? No... no negative thoughts. So, what if I don't have physical strength? I'm mentally strong. I have the power to rise above this situation. I can overcome this. I will. I'm stronger than this. I will raise above this. And once I raise, there will be hell to pay. I will hunt each of these scumbags personally. That I vowed to myself.

Slowly but surely, they cornered me beside a stinky dumpster. I want to shout, one against five shows your prowess! Where is your honor? But I'm not stupid enough to taunt them. I know which situation I'm in. This could get ugly to messy within seconds if I didn't tread carefully. The fight started to wear me thin, reducing the force behind my punches. Which didn't go unnoticed! They finally got the chance and pounced on me from all sides, two guys holding my hands and one my legs. Shorty taunted me with his sleazy smug grin before ripping my shirt. I promised myself then and there, I would hunt this slime-bag down. Even if it would be the last thing I would do. I never felt so exposed. No one saw me with my bra before other than Raphael. At this thought, a guttural scream tore through me. I didn't realize until the fifth one shutting my mouth that I was screaming Rafa.

It may be my imagination or my scream which conjured him, but when the fifth one shut my mouth and shorty tried to put his filthy hands on me that a punch landed on him from behind me. At the same time, I heard the unforgettable sound of Harley.

It took a few seconds for the ones holding me to apprehend what's happening. Before they could understand, Raphael pounced on them. From the other end, Kade dropped his bike to the side and joined the fight. I never saw Kade treating his bike so carelessly. But that thought didn't hold me for long. I have a certain fight to finish.

Before I could get to shorty, Raphael took hold of him. I never knew this angle of Raphael. He fought with him (him doing all the hitting) like a professional. Like a natural. His stance is so at ease. I didn't know Raphael knows how to fight. Of course, I didn't know many things about him. But I thought I could identify a fighter when I saw one. Obviously, it's not a case. His style shit even his way of holding himself is totally different. It's like he is a totally different person. Which is not the case apparently. But still, it would take a lot of practice to separate the fighter from yourself. I tried. It's difficult for me- even now, after leaving it for two years.

I came out of my reverie as the gang runs for their lives, literally. Except for shorty. Shorty is almost unconscious, dangling, while Raphael is holding him by his shirt and beating the shit out of him. He is using him as his own punching bag. Not a hair is out of his place, except for his knuckles. I don't want to interfere, but I don't want Raphael to get in trouble.

'Raphael, leave him. He is not worth it', I said to him through a miasma of pain while holding his hand.

It's as if he is in another zone. He shook my hand like I'm a rag doll and continued his punching.

'Please Rafa', I begged him. Not for that dirty scum, but for him. Because this Raphael is different, he is scary... he is dangerous. I was never scared of him. Not even when he deliberately irritated me. Not even when he was in the moody phase for days. He is normally unfazed, nothing touches him. Shit, not even when some lady tried to ruin his product's reputation. I feel like it was a Long time ago. But that's the Raphael I know. Serious but calm. Passionate but distant.

This particular Raphael is nothing like him. My 'please' did the trick, he finally tore himself away from Shorty, who immediately crumbled to the floor, as all along it was Raphael who was holding him. I didn't check if he is all right or not. I don't care. If Raphael was not here, maybe I would have finished the business and dumped his body somewhere (even though I never committed murder and Kade would not allow it) or at the very least took him for questioning, a very small one like who hired them?

But I couldn't do any of it. So, instead, once we came out of that alley, I asked him the one thing any normal human being won't do after this situation.

'What are you doing here?'