Michael rode his scooter down an empty night street lined with rows of identical high-rise buildings. He didn't like the wide roads brightly lit by LED lights, crowded with driverless cars around the clock. Here, weaving back and forth through courtyards and gateways, he could enjoy his two-wheeled freedom.
The electric motor and soft tires made almost no noise in the quiet residential area. Mikhail rode along, breathing in the cool air and listening to the rare sounds of the night. Somewhere in the distance, a dog barked; it seemed that its owner had come home from work and taken it for a late walk. On the other side, he heard the slam of a metal door. The transformer box, which the scooter passed for a second, emitted its dull, monotonous hum in the night. Suddenly, a woman's scream was heard nearby. It was muffled, as if suppressed, but Mikhail heard it clearly. He turned sharply into a dark corner of the courtyard and almost immediately saw two human figures in the light of his headlights.
A guy and a girl. He was pressing her forcefully against the concrete surface of the fence. The girl's blouse was torn. Seeing the scooter, the guy turned sharply toward Mikhail. Trying to get his bearings, Mikhail got off the scooter and asked firmly but delicately:
"Am I interrupting?"
He had no reason to rush. Last time, he had stumbled upon a couple of BDSM enthusiasts in exactly the same way, and in the end, without understanding what was going on, he got punched in the face by both of them.
"Get out of here!" the guy hissed through clenched teeth.
"Help..." the girl cried out, seeing her chance and trying to break free.
"I don't think the lady wants to talk to you," Mikhail said, deciding to play the noble knight, as he approached.
"I told you to get the hell out of here!" snapped the rapist, who was clearly drunk, and something flashed in his hand.
Mikhail had not planned to fight an armed opponent, especially since he was not carrying any means of self-defense.
"Dude, don't be stupid! Think about the consequences..." Mikhail tried to be as peaceful as possible. "Leave the girl alone and go find someone else to have fun with..."
"You're going to have fun with me right now, bitch!"
Mikhail felt a strong push from his attacker, and a moment later, a sharp pain from sharp metal entering his side. Almost immediately, he fell to the ground, collapsing on his side. Warm, sticky blood began to spread across his shirt. His vision clouded almost immediately. Through this haze, he heard the girl's piercing scream.
The attacker, sobering up for a second, seemed to be frightened by what had happened and dropped the knife. He froze, staring with glassy eyes at the bleeding man. Clutching the wound with his hand, Mikhail hissed with difficulty and undisguised malice:
"Now run, you, idiot!"
Somewhere above, a light came on and the clanking sound of a mechanism starting up could be heard. The hapless rapist jumped up and ran toward the construction site. Not yet realizing how big a mistake he had made, the guy climbed over the fence and disappeared into the darkness near the unfinished building. Following him, the illuminated boom of a tower crane flashed across the dark rooftops. A few seconds later, there was a click as the winch released and a dull thud as a concrete slab fell.
"May his soul rest in cement," Mikhail groaned, turning on his side and looking at the girl, who was still pressed against the wall. "Call an ambulance..."