It was snowing in Maydye. The smell of pine blew through the town, and the rowboat got dark looks as they approached. Jack stepped out first and offered a hand to Avice. "Friendly place."
Avice shuffled out of the bar, her hands in her pockets and her lips pursed thoughtfully as she felt the cold hit her. She was unknowingly trailed by two men, both of which seem frighteningly more intimidating as one of them suddenly shoved her into a thin alleyway. She looked up with fierce eyes, obviously a bit startled at the sudden attack. One spoke, his voice gruff and low, while the other stood to block her escape. "Ye think you can just go around thievin' other people's belongin's?" he grumbled heavily, stepping closer as she crawled backwards slightly, stumbling to her feet. "I didn't take anything," she hissed, drawing her sword. "You would know that if you payed any attention." Her words seemed to aggravate the violent stranger, and he took other lumbering step towards her. "Watch yer tongue missy, or I'll cut it right outta yer mouth," he threatened, and she recoiled in disgust. "Get away, crazy!" she warned, continuing to back up, until she was stopped by a third man, who put his arms around her as a restraint before she could take a stab at any of them. Out of surprise, she dropped her sword, and the first picked up with delight. He examined it a moment, before pointing it at her as she struggled in the third's grasp, kicking and trying to slip away, but to no avail. "Let me go!" she yelled, but silenced immediately as a small dagger was held against her throat. "Yer scum," he told her with a wicked grin. "Just like tha rest of 'em." He made a quick thrust of the sword at her abdomen, the sudden sharp pain causing her to gasp and cry out, tears already springing to her eyes. The man let her go and stepped over her as she fell to the ground, wincsilently as she held herself, bringing her hand up to her face, only to see blood covering its surface. As she saw only red, more pain washed over her, and she cried out again, this time more weakly. The men walked away, one kicking dirt at her before disappearing around the corner, dropping the sword near her before doing so.
Jack was walking back to the dock, his hands in his pocket. He heard a familiar voice cry out, and his blood ran cold. Oh God. Please. Please not her. He saw three men exiting the alleyway and he turned to look in. When he saw her curled figure on the ground, he gasped, feeling all the air leave his system. "Avice!" he cried, running over and kneeling down next to her. "Avice, can you hear me?"
"Oh, baby, I'm sorry. I know it hurts." he murmured, brushing her hair out of her face. He took her shaking hand and squeezed it. His heart was pounding, but he forced himself to stay calm. "Take a deep breath, okay? I'm going to get you out of here."
He picked her up as gently as he could, one arm under her legs and one arm against her back. "Put pressure on the wound, okay? Keep your hand on it."
"I know. I know, baby, I know," he soothed, kissing her hair as he hurried out of the alleyway, almost running towards the docks. "We're going to get it fixed. I promise. Just keep taking deep breaths."
