Jimmy and the Locket Man pt.2

"Where are you chicken s%#t?" The man mustered in a voice that seemed valiant, but barely masked the fear beneath it. The gun fired again, a thunderous clap that rattled Nightcide, and the bullet buried itself in a wall near him. He tried to move slowly, but the bright flash of the gun had given the man a split second to locate his attacker, and it seemed he had done so. The man aimed closer to Nightcide and fired again, but this time he had just enough time to duck down before the bullet ricocheted off the wall where he previously stood. The man moved closer still, trying to pinpoint Nightcide's location using the flash from the gun.

"Takes a real coward to-" Nightcide didn't let him finish. He rolled over to the man's position and threw a kick toward the hand holding the gun. The kick, which probably wouldn't have done much had the man been expecting it, loosened the gun and sent it hurtling toward and the Locket Man. As quickly as he could, Nightcide swept his leg behind those of the man, causing him to loose his balance and topple to the ground. Nightcide jumped to his feet and ran to the side of the man with his right foot swinging back, preparing for a kick to the ribs. Instead, his kick was met with the stone cold grip of the man who would prove to be a challenge. The man used Nightcide's captured foot to swing him over his body and onto the ground on the other side. Nightcide's back met the pavement with a thud, and his breath was forced from his lungs a little more quickly than he had expected. Lying there gasping for air, he could see the moon was framed between the two towering buildings on either side of the alley and that it would have made a beautiful picture had he seen it under a different circumstance. The man's fist crossed over the moon, descending toward Nightcide at a startling pace. He was able to catch it, but he only managed to slow the velocity of the hit and not actually stop it. The fist connected with Nightcide's chest, and he lost what little breath he was able to regain. The man had made it to a standing position now, or at least to his knees, and had another fist coiled for the area he thought to be Nightcide's face. When this punch descended Nightcide rolled slightly, causing the man to punch the unforgiving asphalt. Using that surprise to his advantage, he put everything he had behind a punch to the man's throat. There was a liquid gargling sound, like someone who can't swim trying to stay afloat in the ocean, before the man fell on his back to the ground clutching his throat.

Nightcide stood, brushed himself off, and walked toward Jimmy and the Locket Man. Once he reached the Locket Man he could see a dark fluid trickling from his nose in the ominous green light, and he knew it must've been blood from the punch. The man seemed a bit dazed and looked as if he was trying to determine exactly where he was. Nightcide lowered himself until he was just above the confused eyes and he threw a lightning fast punch across the man's jaw.

"WAKE UP" He spoke in the most guttural rasp he could muster. Surely this imbecile would not recognize his voice, but he couldn't take any chances.

"Wha...I..."

"THE LOCKET, WHERE DID YOU GET IT?"

"I don't...I don't...."

Another lightening quick punch landed, this one accompanied by a pop. A tooth loosened, a jaw bone fractured.

"WHERE DID YOU GET IT?"

"The..the girl's mother...she had it...boss took it off before...."

Nightcide lowered his face until it was inches from the man's. "WHERE'S THE GIRL? WHAT DID HE DO WITH HER?"

He waited a moment and then threw another punch at the man’s battered face. His knuckles were on fire, but he barely noticed. He would see later when he got home, that he'd torn the skin on three of them despite the gloves. When the man rolled his head back over this time there was a trickle of the dark liquid crawling out of his mouth.

"I d...don't kn....know..."

Nightcide grabbed the man's shirt with both hands and lifted his upper body off of the pavement. The man's head hung limp at first but then he attempted to raise it and meet his mysterious attacker's gaze. Nightcide reached back to the knife case attached to the back of his belt, just beside the pouch, and pulled out the knife, flipping its gleaming blade out of the handle and locking it in place. He wasn't completely sure why he brought it with him, or why he was taking it out right now, but he raised the knife to the man's throat and pushed it against the tender skin there. He could smell the man's odorous breath; a trace of alcohol was present.

"YOU BETTER START TALKING, OR I'M TAKING YOUR HEAD OFF JUST LIKE THE GIRL'S MOTHER” He wasn't sure if he really meant that, it sounded like someone else talking when he said it. But that person could have been serious. The man's head bobbed uncontrollably, and the movement caused the blade to dig in and the man to wince in pain.

"I..I don't know OK! He took her with him...told us not to follow...I'm...not sure..where he went...there's a w..warehouse where we m..meet sometimes...Edward Supply...He may... may have gone there..."

Nightcide frowned furiously, even though the man couldn't see his face, and slammed him back down onto the pavement. The man coughed and rolled to his side cradling his jaw. Nightcide kicked him across the face swiftly to put him out - and make sure he wasn't followed. He turned to leave, remembered something, and turned back. He reached down, dug into the man's dingy pocket and retrieved the locket. It was a heart with an intricate design running the edges. Crouching there on the cold street in the middle of the night it had a kind of warmth to it. It glimmered with its own kind of beauty. He pushed the small latch at the top and it flipped open instantly, revealing a picture of the girl a year or so younger. Nightcide narrowed his eyes and closed the locket in the palm of his hand. He stood slowly and looked down both sides of the alley, trying to determine the best route.