Eagless 102

The bell above the library rang out twice, and students began to trickle out the doors, finished with another night of studying, as midterms were in full stride. Ashley sat perched atop the social sciences building next door, looking down on the students from above, hidden from those passing below by the dark sky.

Fifteen minutes later, an employee locked the doors from the outside and walked off, leaving her alone. The library had closed. Ashley had been sitting on the building for two and a half hours, making sure all the students made it out of the library and back to the residence halls safely. And for another night they did. Just like they had every other night since she started sitting up there. Climbing down from the rooftop, Ashley made her way back to their house, sticking to the shadows even though the campus was empty.

“I don’t get it,” she vented to Nicole who had to push pause on the show she’d been watching when Ashley had walked in. “I don’t know where all this increase in crime is even happening. I sit and watch the library, and the students walk in and then walk back to the halls every night and nothing ever happens.”

Nicole set her bowl of cereal down on the side table and turned to face Ashley, crossing her legs under her on the couch. “I’m sure if you check with wherever you got that sixty percent number you could figure out where it was happening. Maybe people are still wary of doing things in the open on campus after last year but they’re more comfortable off campus or at their frat house.”

“I guess that’s true.” Ashley collapsed into the oversized and overused chair, sinking into the soft cushions as the little adrenaline from the night seeped out of her. “But what am I supposed to do to help prevent that? I can’t be everywhere at once to watch what’s happening. I definitely can’t just hangout in frat houses waiting. I’m already working so much, and I can’t afford to cut any more time from school or soccer.”

“Maybe the issue isn’t that you need to work harder. Maybe what you need to do is work smarter,” Nicole answered, reaching back to grab her bowl from the table.

“What do you mean?”

“Well, right now you’re just going and staking out the library every night, right? And you’re not seeing anything.” Nicole paused as she took another bite of cereal. “So, you’re spending two hours a night where there aren’t any problems. What you need to figure out is both where and when this uptick in assaults is happening. Find the records that say where arrests were made, or reports were filed, and check the time stamps. Then you work from there to put yourself in the best position to succeed by going to the crime instead of waiting for crime to come to you.”

“You’re right!” Ashley tried to sit up as a new wave of energy and excitement hit her, though she struggled to escape the chair’s comfy grasp for a moment before she was back on her feet, pacing. “I’ve had blinders on since it was that walk from the library where the White Knight helped us last semester. But clearly that’s not where the current need is. Plus, he was spotted all over, not just in one spot. Great catch, partner.”

“Thank you,” Nicole laughed. “But there is something else I’ve been thinking of that I wanted to ask you.”

“Go for it.” Ashley picked up an apple from the bowl on the bar and tossed it from one hand to the other as she continued pacing.

“What weapon are you taking with you on your patrols? I’ve never seen you carrying anything.”

“I don’t feel comfortable with any kind of weapon. It feels wrong.” She shrugged. “So, I just go out without one.”

“You have to realize how dumb that is, right?” Nicole had the spoon halfway to her mouth but stopped and put the cereal back in the bowl. “You’re putting yourself in danger by being a hero, and you’re not taking even the most basic precautions against it. You’re just putting on a mask you ordered online and a leather jacket.”

“I don’t want to hurt people, just stop them. Do you remember how the White Knight broke that guy’s arm with his stick when he helped us? While I appreciated his help, I’ve been kinda scarred since then because of that. I just can’t get the image of that arm dangling out of my head.” Ashley shivered thinking about it again.

“Then you can’t keep going out there. You have to commit to the whole thing if you’re going to do this. And that means you’re going to have to fight people and maybe hurt them. Would you rather the White Knight let those guys attack us instead of hurting them? No. And nobody you’re going to try, and help is going to think ‘I’m glad she didn’t hurt that guy. I know he assaulted me because she didn’t hurt him, but at least he wasn’t in pain.’ You have to make those tough calls sometimes, Adair.”

“Look, you might be right, but I’m not comfortable with that right now. We can talk more later. I’m going to get too little sleep as it is, so I need to call it a night.”

“Oh, we’re definitely talking more later,” Nicole called after her through a mouthful of cereal as Ashley walked to the bathroom.

The next night, Ashley looked up from the courtyard at the balcony. That’s where the White Knight started. People staked it out for weeks after that first save. It’s worth a shot. Ashley began climbing up to the balcony and settled into one of the chairs in the darkness.

Ashley clenched and unclenched her fists. It had been thirty minutes since she staked out her spot on the balcony, and the first cold front of the year came through earlier in the day. This was the first night since she’d started patrolling that the weather had made her uncomfortable. I’ll need some gloves. And probably a long-sleeved shirt to wear under the jacket going forward.

“HEY!” The shout coming from the student union caused Ashley to jerk her head up and over, pulling her from her meditation. “Come back!” the voice yelled again as a guy sprinted into the courtyard with a backpack in his hands. Ashley darted to the ladder and skipped down the rungs.

A group of people had now walked out of the student union, watching the bag snatcher run. He was almost across the courtyard when Ashley landed and gave chase. He had a twenty-yard head start on her, but didn’t know she was coming for him. Not that it would have mattered. She caught up to him after he’d only made it thirty more yards. Grabbing the bag, she planted her foot to stop her momentum and tugged. The man’s feet went into the air as he fell and landed on his back, still clutching the bag. Scrambling to his feet, he tried to rip the bag from Ashley, but she wasn’t letting go.

She yanked the bag, pulling the thief closer while also delivering a turning kick to his side. His grip released as he reached for his side, groaning in pain. Ashley toppled backwards as he let go, thankful for the leather jacket protecting her elbows in the fall. Jumping back to her feet, she saw the man scurry into the library. She hadn’t gotten a good look at him. There was no way she’d find him in there. But I got the bag back. She smiled to herself as she turned around.

As she jogged back to the union, she noticed that a larger group had gathered in the courtyard as people watched her pursue the bag snatcher.

A loud cheer went up as she returned to the light of the courtyard with the bag in hand. Ashley smiled and gave a quick wave but quickly set the bag down and sprinted off when the crowd started rushing towards her. She darted between two buildings and up a fire escape, barely making it over the edge of the roof before a group made it to the alley.

Ashley lay flat on her back, trying to control her breathing. The group’s muttering got further away as she panted. After waiting another ten minutes, Ashley sat back up and peered off the roof. The crowd had dispersed, and there were only a few passersby who weren’t looking for anyone.

She descended the fire escape and put the mask in her pocket. No more heroism tonight. Ashley headed back to the house to call it a night. The smile had yet to fade from her lips.

Eagless continues with episode 103!

For more stories set in this world, buy my books, The White Knight and SAMSON – OUT NOW! Or read my short story series The Street Rat for free like Eagless!

Subscribe below to be the first to know when new stories are released!