Familiar

Pushing through the sea of people and from a slit, he caught a sight of her back. He thought 'Hmm, why do I feel she looks familiar... to someone?'

The thug roughly grabbed her hips with a lecherous gaze, she slapped him. His face darkened and frisked her to the floor, she closed her eyes tight and curled her head expecting the blow. And before the man could strike her, Draven jumped over with a flying kick in the face; kicking a meter away.

*Bang* 

The spectators gasped. Slowly her eyes fluttered open, bewildered by the events. As a man bleed on the ground.

Her earthen eyes widened, seeing her saviour. With a light chuckle, Draven gazed into her eyes and softly mouthed 'Hi'

The man rubbed his face in pain, stood on his feet and spat blood. They supported him and drew out their knives. He shouted "Yo punk! How dare you kick me? Don't you know who am I?

Draven snickered "Do I look like I care?" A ball of fire crawled around his hand.

Another guy said "If anything happens to us, we will slice everyone close to you, your mom..."

A fire ball hit his face, the speaker cried, rolling on the floor.

Draven mocked "You guys are nothing but fart."

The thugs shared eye contact and made an agreement and attacked Draven together.

Draven just stood still; pictures of his childhood flashed across his mind.

Ten bots charged in front of him.

An elderly voice, said "To fight more than one, he must be calm in the face of the storm"

"Centre your gravity, focus your breath and your eyes on one"

"Strike hard and fast... every hit counts!"

Following the old advice, he calmed his spirit.

A man slashed his laser knife. Based on his instincts, Draven side stepped and raised his leg, to a high knee.

*Thud*

One of the guys crashed into the spectators.

Two came from the sides, one had a water sword on his arms and the other morphed his hand into a talon.

In the face of true strength, the talon fractured under his punch. "AAAIII" he fell, clutching his hand.

Draven tilted his head down and avoided the swords, and sweep kicked them and strikes the enemy’s vitals. Draven yawned and twisted his body to the right; avoided the knives. He rushed forward, wringing his throat and chopped the attacker unconscious.

The last man coated his sword with his fire.

Intrigued, Draven's visage lit up 'Hmm A fire user let's see how strong you are!'

He and Draven rushed forward. Like a snake the fire travelled to his dagger and clashed with the man's sword.

Under the dominance of Draven's fire, the stood in shock as his fire wavered and puffed into a normal sword.

Even though, Draven was recently promoted to a level 1 fire user, it shouldn't be possible for him to have a purer fire than his opponent. Thanks to the Legend's scroll fire technique, Draven was a level higher.

His opponent exclaimed "How are you so strong? Who are you?" and fell to his knees. Remembering an anime scene, Draven blurted "Just your punisher!" and executed him with the act of severing his head. The rest fled in different directions and said their last words. "I swear, in the name of the mighty hallows we will back and slaughter you!!!" 

Draven shouted back "Go on and bring more. I will be waiting for more target dummies!"

Draven thought 'Looks like I won't be playing ice hockey today'. He sighed and kicked the corpse. Leaving her flyers, she grabbed his hand and ran from the scene.

Passing a few shops, they stopped at a game store. Draven bought two game passes and entered a private room.

Draven had a load of questions to ask but didn't know what to say? 

'What would be a nice conversation starter?' Draven thought, and said "Hey Sarah! What happened? Are you fine?"

Sarah said "I'm alright Draven thanks to you! You have grown!"

Draven like a little kid, he said "Yeah, but I'm big now! And I no longer need your protection!" She giggled.

Draven said "But, why were they harassing you?"

Sarah said "Oh, you know the drill, these gangsters always pick on the defenceless to feed their ego. They wanted me to sleep with them to pay off their protection fee. I refused and they tried to force me. And you know the rest!"

Taking a closer look, Draven asked "And where is your disguise? I remember you used to put on your ugly makeup"

Sarah said "I normally have it on. But I finally got a better job than cleaning or sweeping. I started working as a waitress in a local restaurant and did an extra job. You know, every credit counts. So, I was giving out leaflets to the shoppers and I had to look pretty if I wanted to."

Draven said "Oh that's explain things" and got off the couch to select a game to play.

Draven then asked what was bothering him. "Where you the one... that sent me a letter?"

Sarah nodded.

Draven said "What happened to Sam exactly?"

Sarah tilted her head from his gaze; silently sobbed.

Her cries were muted under the cover of the flashing screen light and the cinematic sounds.

Draven hugged her. Her voice croaked against his chest "There was a gang fight. And Sam was caught in a crossfire between two gangs"

Draven heart fastened, said "So, did he get hurt or is he dead?"

Sarah replied "No... he was kidnapped by a guy from Black Water gang. I'm not sure where they took him But I did my investigation and found out a little about the kidnapper"

Draven nails digged into the couch. "What's his name?"

Sarah stared into my eyes, said "Jasper, a level 4 multiplier. The only reason he took Sam is because he found him pretty!"

Draven asked "Wait, he is a gay?"

Sarah nodded. Draven slapped his head, said "Now I see why? Sam was always looked feminine!"

"No worries, Sarah, I will rescue him!" Draven vowed and pulled her closer to him.

A moment later, her tears dried, he pulled out a chilled apple juice for her Anda packet of his favourite chips from his bag.

He plopped next to her, said "Come on let's put this behind us and enjoy ourselves!"

Remembering her duties, Sarah stood up "But I have to work!"

Draven pulled her down and reasoned "I don't think you can, especially with the security guards in cahoots with them. They will straight away hand you over to them once they see you!"

Sarah said "I guess you are right!"

Noticing the anxiety, he squeezed her hand, said "This is my treat, just relax!"