Rosette's scream only made the man more angry as he grabbed her throat now and started squeezing. She choked and struggled for breath and his grip got tighter and tighter. Fear gripped her heart as the darkness soon came but she remembered a loud crack before she fell to her knees and the cold of the snow as it soaked her stockings and skirt.<br/><br/>She must have blacked out for a moment and woke slowly, still hunched and sitting up. Coughing and shivering, she picked up the jacket that was in front of her and quickly put it on, hugging it close. Her chest felt like it was on fire, yet her skin icy cold.<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">"Are you alright?"</span><br/><br/>Rosette groggily looked up, still breathing hard. She wasn't sure if she was still dreaming or hallucinating but there was a man standing over her, his hand outstretched to help her up, yet had the demeanor of a kind person, as opposed to the two thugs that tried to rape her.<br/><br/>"W-What?" She choked out. Her hands felt her throat, her skin and muscles burned and tender.<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold"> "My name is..J----Keith. What is your name?"</span>he asked. Rosette looked up at him, her vision a bit blurred from lack of oxygen. A moment later it sharpened to a caring face and a smile looking down at her. One that seemed oddly familiar...<br/><br/>"R-Rosette. Rosette Starstream." she muttered, now shivering from the cold.<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold"> "Did that hurt you miss?" he asked. He held out his hand. "It is nice to meet you. I...felt you were in need of help."</span>Rosette nodded, still shaking, not really sure if it was from the cold now or just the fright or shock. Her throat muscles ached and she still had trouble breathing, but she took his hand and struggled to her feet. Staggering she fell into his arms and leaned on him for support.<br/><br/>"S-Sorry. I'm not feeling right." she stammered. Now that she was standing, her head began to swim and she almost fell down again, if it weren't for the support of the man before her. Keith, was it? Why was that familiar? "Thank you. I thought I was dead." she slurred, "I mean I felt them coming, but I couldn't get away fast enough. I mean, how was I to know they would be bad people just by feeling their presence..." Her clarity returned for a brief moment as she realized what she had just said to a total stranger in her oxygen deprived stupor, "Ah, I mean, I heard them coming...from around the corner. Yeah, that's it."<br/><br/>She pushed off of him, standing on her own a moment then leaned over to retrieve her bag. Feeling inside the jacket she realized her buttons were missing and the shirt would not close anymore. Her own jacket was in the same state.<br/><br/>"Well, sir. I thank you for the rescue. I'm very grateful. Can I offer anything in return? A hot meal perhaps or a warm drink? My apartment is just up there." she said pointing to the nearby building. She swayed for a moment as her head swam, but quickly righted herself again, steeling her focus.