Chapter 6

Karkat looked around quickly for some means of deterring his assailant. Maybe he could slip down one of the side roads and make his way back where he came, then lose the guy in the crowd. Without coming up with any better ideas, he took a sharp turn and began to head down a smaller path. Wiith lanterns not lilluminating this area, it became rather dark, and Karkat was left to use the small amounts of moonlight that shown through the clouds to guide himself. He took a right, then a left, then another left, and then another right. Unfortunately, his chosen path ended with a wall. "Shit! Dead end." He hissed. Then he slowly turned, the sound of footsteeps approaching him. He swallowed the lump in his throat. Literally. The crook who had been following him stopped, his yellow eyes flashing hungrily in the dim light. Even with the limited visibility, Karkat could see a grin slowly creep it's way onto his face. Heart pounding rapidly in his chest, Karkat backed himself up until he was pressed against the wall. "W-what the fuck do you want?!" He shouted shakily at the troll before him, his voice cracking slightly. The crook laughed hoarsely, his voice hard and grating, rattling Karkat to the core. "Why, I saw a finely dressed young troll walking down the street without any assistance, so I reckoned I'd lend a hand." The crook took a few slow paces forward, and Karkat pushed up harder against the wall, almost like he was trying to move it out of the way. "Stay away from me!" The troll snickered at Karkat's protest. "Why I know, let's make a deal shall we? You hand over everything you got on ya," Karkat's eyes widened as the moon rays met with a dagger, making it glow with evil intent. "And I might just let ya live." Karkat stood frozen and trembling against the wall, knowing his chances of getting out of this unscathed were slim to none. Well then, he thought, If this is how I die, then I might as well go out with my dignity in tact. He surpressed the fear rising within him snd steadied his voice. "Fuck. You." He growled, watching as the crooks smirk became a grimace, and he approached Karkat, dagger beared. Karkat shut his eyes, bracing himself for the blade to pierce him, to rip a hole in him. But instead, he heard a slight cry of surprise followed by a loud thump. Karkat wanted to open his eyes and see what had happened but fear kept him stiff. He heard someone approach him, and stop a few feet away. "Hey, Karkat, you okay? Did thith athhole hurt you?" Karkat couldn't believe his ears. That sounds like... He opened his eyes and recieved his conformation. Psiioniic was kneeling down in front of him, waiting for an answer. Behind him, the crook was face-down on the ground and out cold. Karkat blinked, surprised and relieved all at once. "N-no but... Why did you..." Psiioniic sighed and stood up. "Iths kinda hard to be thuthspicious of a kid who can't even defend himthelf. Tho I gueth you're truthstworthy. And bethsides, Thighnless would kill me if he found out I let thomthing happen to you." Karkat nodded slightly, looking up at him. "Thank you Psiioniic." The tall troll looked away sheepishly and began to walk back. "You can juth call me Psii now, okay? Now c'mon, the others are worried about you."