“The Shadow on Your Heart” :^)
The raider had made the mistake of catching him unaware, making him vulnerable for just that minute. A shot to the shoulder, another to the stomach. It snapped something within him. Panic made him dangerous, and he lashed out like a caged beast. The raider drew his own blade, thinking to finish him off.
He blocked the machete with his left forearm, as he always did. The arm was scar tissue and dead nerves, useless for any other reason. Through the bite of pain, he pushed forward and found his opening. He sunk his knife into the soft flesh under the raider’s arm, pleased by the choked gasp of fear.
Gabriel gave the knife a sharp twist, then pushed the raider’s body off of him. He turned, noticing the woman down the alleyway. Swaying just a bit, he wiped his knife on his bloodied dress shirt. “Was surprised this suit lasted this long,” he mused. “Serves me right for wandering, I guess.”