The thin, dark man led the way from the side as Stella Sterling walked in front. Inside the dim storefront, it was hard to even make out the ground beneath her feet.
Stella Sterling was walking ahead when the thin, dark man suddenly swung a hand-chop at the back of her head. "Sorry about this."
But the chop landed, and Stella Sterling didn't collapse as he'd expected. She turned to look back, her confused gaze meeting his awkward and stunned expression.
For a moment, an awkward silence hung in the air.
The thin, dark man gave a sheepish grin. "Apologies, miss. It's best if you don't know the way from here, so…"
Before he could finish, another person rushed from behind and pressed a cloth over her face. A glint flashed in Stella Sterling's eyes, and a moment later, she collapsed backward.
"Is this girl that tough? I hit her with all my might and she didn't even pass out!"
