Chapter20: A Lesson
The café had mostly returned to its tranquil state, the earlier chaos reduced to a few whispers among the patrons. Rebecca and Emma were finishing their meal when the door slammed open again.
The two men from earlier stormed in, this time with three more in tow. All of them were rough-looking, exuding arrogance and anger. The leader, now sporting a makeshift sling on his arm, pointed directly at Rebecca.
"There she is!" he barked. "This is the bitch who messed with us!"
Rebecca sighed, her irritation evident. She set her napkin down and stood slowly, her movements calm but deliberate. Emma's eyes widened, fear creeping back into her chest.
"Rebecca, maybe we should just leave—" Emma started, but Rebecca raised a hand, silencing her.
"Stay behind me," Rebecca said, her voice low and cold.
The leader sneered. "Oh, you think you're so tough, don't you? Let's see how you handle all of us."
The first man charged, aiming a wild punch at Rebecca. She sidestepped effortlessly, her knee driving into his stomach. He doubled over with a grunt, and Rebecca grabbed his collar, hurling him into a nearby table.
The second man came at her with a chair, but Rebecca caught it mid-swing, yanked it from his hands, and used it to knock him to the ground.
The others hesitated for a moment, but the leader barked, "What are you waiting for? Get her!"
The remaining two rushed forward. Rebecca moved like a whirlwind—graceful, precise, and utterly merciless. A swift kick sent one man sprawling into a wall, while a brutal elbow to the jaw dropped the other.
Emma stood frozen, her hands clasped over her mouth. She couldn't look away this time, no matter how much she wanted to.
The leader, now the only one standing, stumbled back, his confidence shattered. "Y-You're insane!" he stammered.
Rebecca took a step toward him, her expression as calm as ever. "You think this is insane?" she said softly. "Let me show you what insane really looks like."
Before he could react, Rebecca grabbed his injured arm. With a sickening crack, she tore it clean off at the shoulder.
The man screamed, collapsing to the floor as blood poured from the wound. The café erupted into chaos, patrons scrambling to leave while others called for help.
Rebecca tossed the severed arm aside as if it were trash, her face showing only mild annoyance. "Now get out of my sight," she said icily.
The man didn't need to be told twice. Clutching his shoulder, he crawled toward the door, his screams fading as he disappeared down the street.
Emma was shaking, her eyes wide with shock. "Rebecca, that was—"
"Necessary," Rebecca interrupted, wiping her hands with a napkin as if nothing had happened. "People like him only learn through pain."
Just as they were about to leave the café, sirens blared outside. A group of police officers stormed in, weapons drawn.
The officer in charge, a tall man with a stern expression, immediately locked eyes with Rebecca. His face paled.
"Miss Rebecca…" he began hesitantly.
Rebecca crossed her arms, unimpressed. "What is it, Officer?"
The two men from earlier were standing behind the officers, their faces twisted with smug satisfaction. "That's her!" one of them shouted. "She assaulted us! Arrest her!"
The officer glanced at them, then back at Rebecca. He cleared his throat nervously. "Miss Rebecca, there's been a complaint—"
Rebecca's voice cut through him like a blade. "Do you know who I am?"
The officer stiffened, sweat beading on his forehead. "Of course, ma'am, but—"
"Then you know better than to waste my time with this nonsense," Rebecca said sharply. She gestured toward the two men. "These fools tried to harass my companion and brought their little gang to attack me. Everything I did was in self-defense. Are you going to question my word?"
The officer swallowed hard, shaking his head. "No, ma'am. Of course not."
He turned to the two men, his tone suddenly harsh. "You two are under arrest for attempted assault and harassment."
"What?!" one of them shouted. "She's the one who—"
"Shut up," the officer snapped, signaling for his men to cuff them.
As the two men were dragged out of the café, the officer turned back to Rebecca. "I apologize for the inconvenience, Miss Rebecca. We'll make sure they face the full extent of the law."
Rebecca's lips curled into a cold smile. "See that you do. And make sure they learn their lesson properly."
The officer nodded, understanding her unspoken implication. In this city, certain punishments were meted out behind closed doors, and Rebecca had the influence to ensure these men would endure every ounce of it.
As the police left, Rebecca turned to Emma, who was still visibly shaken. "Are you alright?"
Emma nodded slowly, though her hands were trembling. "I… I think so."
Rebecca placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Good. Let this be a reminder, Emma. The world isn't kind, and people will try to take advantage of you. Never let them."
Emma looked up at Rebecca, her fear giving way to a newfound respect. "Thank you, Rebecca. For protecting me."
Rebecca smiled faintly. "Always. Now, let's get out of here. I've had enough excitement for one day."
As they walked out of the café, Emma couldn't help but glance back at the chaos they were leaving behind. For better or worse, she knew her life would never be the same with Rebecca by her side.