NYE Pt. 6

Dozens of people stared as Cress shoved her way out of the warehouse, leaving the flashing lights and skull-splitting music behind her. Like inside, most looked away and the few who seemed concerned were stopped by their friends. Even when Cress tripped and tumbled to the pavement, tearing the knee of her jeans and scraping her cheek, no one bothered to help her.

"For the girls, my ass. Illia was right; humanity is trash. I was shocked that she's killed people on Earth, but I'm starting to wonder if she shouldn't kill more."

Spitting bitter resentment on the ground and rubbing her aching elbow, Cress pulled herself to her feet. Thanks to the shirt Illia had made her, her arms and torso were spared any cuts or scrapes. Like Illia had claimed, the shirt had protected her like a thin veil of armor and other than her cheek and knee, she'd walk away with a few bruises at worst. Her only regret was the blood that had dripped from her cheek onto the white blouse's lace sleeve.

"What do I do?" Cress mumbled, hiding between two nearby conexes.

"They didn't follow me. Doesn't that mean they're just going to go after Kir and Vi? There's no way Kir's dad didn't make her hire security, but who knows how reliable they are? Anyone who's worked for Kir long term knows me and Vi and how pissed Kir would be if something happened to us. The fact no one came… Not even Illia…"

Cress wiped her moistening eyes with her sleeve. Fog billowed out like smoke as she sighed, shivering from a breeze that squeezed between the two shipping containers. Every inch of her ached from her fall and she felt like a dying rat in hiding.

"So much for being braver!" Cress said, kicking the container in front of her until her foot felt like it was shattered into a dozen pieces. "All I wanted to do was have a romantic New Year's Eve with Illia! I'm so sick of this!"

Her lungs burned as she panted. She'd vented some of her rage. Just some. The rest she'd direct at those who deserved it.

Eyes followed Cress again as she stalked back into the warehouse, her broiling blood bellowing obscenities loud enough to silence the blaring music. As predicted, the men from before had surrounded Kirian and Vianna, forcing them into a clearly unwanted conversation. The off-brand Dian's arm hung around Kirian's shoulder who smiled without a care in the world. Vinna, however, had her wits about her and was glued to Kirian's side, arms wrapped around hers, glaring daggers at any of the blond's friends who tried to speak to her.

"Hey you!" Cress yelled over the music. She shoved her way past the man who had chased her and his eyes widened in disbelief. "Get your hands off Kir!"

The blond man's body tensed around Kirian's neck and he gave the man who'd lost Cress a murderous scowl before putting on a conman's smile. Kirian and Vianna both looked at Cress in confusion and it only took them a second to piece everything together.

"What did you do to Cress?!" Kirian yelled, shoving the blond man off of her. His smile faded and he caught Kirian's wrist, trying to pull her to him. Vianna's iron grip anchored her, though it was only a temporary measure. Already several of the blond's lackeys were closing in. How the ordeal had turned into a TV drama, Cress wasn't sure. It didn't matter. The glove had been thrown.

"Let. Her. GO!"

Cress's knuckles felt like glass as they bludgeoned the blond's nose, knocking him back and freeing Kirian. Vianna had already thrown herself in front of Kirian to shield her from the other men, though there wasn't much she could do with her small frame.

"Kir, where's your security?" Vianna asked. Her pupils were dilated and she was breathing hard, either from fear or lingering exhaustion from dancing too much. Or maybe the drugs. It didn't matter. Between the hate festering in her soul and the alcohol still coursing through her veins, she felt invincible.

Only she wasn't. Her glasses flew into the crowd of dancers when the blond's fist connected with her cheek and she stumbled back into the grasp of one of his waiting lackeys. They locked their arms under Cress's, pinning her and no matter how much she flailed, kicked, or stomped on the man's foot, he didn't flinch. Kirian tried to hit the blond to keep him from Cress, but he shoved her to the floor without even glancing.

"We're screwed. We're totally screwed. For whatever reason Kir's security isn't coming and I can't do anything. Why won't anyone help us?! Where's that stupid spider when I need her?"

Cress squeezed her eyes shut as the blond threw his punch, bracing herself as best she could. She'd never been in a fight before and it was ending just as she imagined. Her liquid courage and anger had given way to fear and resignation.

"ILLIA!" Cress screamed in desperate instinct, tucking her head as best she could in a futile attempt to protect herself. Her face already felt swollen and she wondered what she was going to look like when they were through with her.

But the blow never landed. Instead, there was the sound of crunching bone and a scream louder than the head-pounding music.

"CRESS!" Illia's voice was deep and grating, like an iron ball being dragged through gravel. Squinting her eyes, Cress could make out Illia's looming figure. It was taller than she remembered and the memory of the mugger from months ago flashed in her mind.

"She's going to kill him. I need to stop… Why? Why should I protect any of these people? They all watched or ignored me while these guys assaulted us."

"Don't hold back!"

Shattering glass and horrified screams of onlookers filled the warehouse as the music abruptly stopped. The DJ must have noticed the commotion and it didn't take long for the scene to break out into chaos. The blond's limp body lay atop the bent metal remains of the bar, broken bottles littered around his head. Blood mixed with the liquor on the floor. There was a good chance he was dead and if he wasn't, he'd wish he was when he woke up.

Not a moment later, a crimson spray soaked Cress's hair and dripped down her face. The body of the man holding her went limp, collapsing to the floor and both Kirian and Vianna stood paralyzed in shock. The crumbled man at Cress's feet's head was barely attached and what was left looked more like a smashed watermelon than a human skull.

"Are you alright?" Illia asked, all her eyes looking Cress over. Already Cress could feel the soothing radiance of Illia's magic. Once she was satisfied with Cress's condition, she pulled her to her chest, keeping one arm defensively around her.

"I'm fine," Cress lied, body trembling. She felt like she was made of concrete and was relying on Illia's embrace to keep her upright. Her body felt fine, but mentally, she was in shambles. Her thoughts were barely concepts and all she wanted was to go home. "Are Kir and Vi alright?"

Glancing over at the other women, Illia nodded. "A group of men have come to their aid and are securing the area."

Relief stirred with weariness within Cress and before she knew it, she was beating Illia with her fists as she sobbed in her arms.

"Where were you?! You said I could depend on you but you abandoned me to talk to some dumb bitch! This is all your fault!"

"I can explain," Illia whispered, stroking Cress's red soaked hair. "But we should resolve this incident first."

"Don't worry about it," Kirian said, walking over. She held her white wig in one hand and her phone in her other. Vianna was trembling behind her, fumbling with her phone to call Ian. Kirian seemed fine, but Vianna looked ready to snap any second. "I already spoke with Daddy. His men will clean this up, so don't worry."

"Just like that?"

"Of course," Kirian laughed. "Vi and I didn't mean to hide it, but my dad is very… involved with these sorts of things."

"Vi knows too? Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"Oh come on, Crescent Roll. Think of how timid you used to be, jumping at shadows and seeing spiders everywhere. How would you have reacted if you found out your friend's dad was a gang leader?"

"She's not wrong. I'm annoyed they hid it from me, but as usual, they were just looking out for me. How many years… I really am pathetic."

"Illy, you should take Cress home and get her cleaned up. Ian is coming to pick up Vi. I'll text Cress once things are settled."

"Understood. Can you order one of your guards to fetch our belongings?"

Without a word, a woman in a black suit stepped forward and presented their coats with Cress's purse laying on top.

"I'm sorry about all this, Kir. I ruined New Year's and I'm putting you through all this when we were supposed to be cheering you up."

"Don't say that!" Kirian said, grabbing Cress's hand. Her black eyes stared into Cress's, forcing her to acknowledge her sincerity. "If it weren't for you, who knows what would have happened? The way you punched that guy was amazing! I should apologize for my USELESS SECURITY for letting this happen in the first place."

Several sweaty brows hung low and Cress wondered if they'd have jobs by the morning. Or if they'd be alive. If Kirian's dad really was a bigtime crime lord, their survival was probably in jeopardy.

"Are you satisfied, Crescent?"

Cress nodded, only to let out a gasp when Illia scooped her into her arms like a princess.

"S-Should I call us a ride?" Cress asked, trying not to acknowledge the curious looks they were getting.

"There's no need."

"What are you going to do? Carry me all the way home?"

Illia didn't answer and continued to walk face forward until they reached the dimly lit road.