Raising my arm, I prepared to fight back.
She grabbed my arm and pulled me along, dragging me down the alley as she broke out into a run.
The speed at which she was pulling me nearly made me trip.
"There's two men following us. Your money distracted them. Keep up," she hissed, her eyes wide and tone urgent.
Her hold on me wasn't tight, but it was firm. I couldn't help but believe in what she had said.
We raced down the winding paths, the houses forming a literal maze with sharp turns and dead ends.
The woman was fast, leaping over holes in the floor and broken walls.
It was tough to see how deep the holes were in the dark. I was thankful to be able to catch up.
At last, when my lungs were about to burst from the exertion, we emerged from the maze-like pathways and stopped in front of a courtesans' house.
I bent over, hands on my knees, desperate for breath. The woman was panting but kept an eye out, checking if there was anyone behind us.
