City Streets

Hi, my name is Carter.

JEREMY: Carter, don't you have better things to be doing?

I'm killing time.

ME: Like what?
JEREMY: Like anything other than walking the streets of Providence at 2am?

I like the city at night. Walking through it clears my head.

Jeremy's worried.

ME: I'll be fine.
JEREMY: I just don't think it's safe.
ME: It's Providence, Jeremy, not L.A.
JEREMY: Just do one more lap around whatever block you're on and then go home, okay? Study your A.C.T.F. scene if you have nothing else to do.
ME: Yeah, I should get on that. I'll talk to you later.
JEREMY: So you're heading back?
ME: Sure. Night.
JEREMY: Night.

I hung up...

...And kept walking.

I'd made it over to the Performing Arts Center when I heard them behind me laughing. I wasn't really scared. I was right near the JWU Security Center and one of the clubs--

VOICE: Hey!

I turned around. There were five of them.

GUY #1: What's up?
ME: Nothing much.
GUY #2: You're out late, boy.
ME: I'm not a boy.
GUY #2: What did you say?
ME: I said I'm not--
GUY #1: Shut the fuck up.

He punched me in the stomach, and I went down. I felt someone kicking me, then someone else. I heard someone say 'Get his wallet,' but I'm not sure. I went to reach for my wallet, but then I remembered there's nothing in it, so why bother?

I tried to covering myself, but I didn't do too well.

I thought of Jeremy.

Actually, that was the last thing I thought of before I blacked out.