Lucas continued following the old man for three blocks. I can’t believe he’s actually headed right for my favorite spot, Lucas thought.

That spot was the darkest part of the city, and there was an alley between two tall buildings, the perfect place for a mugging.

Lucas loved the thrill of the chase, especially because his mark never knew it was coming. And this one would probably have a good haul tonight, for the old man had been in a few pricey stores already.

When it was time, there was no one around, just the two of them. So perfect.

Lucas sped up behind the old man and moved to shove him into the alley.

Before he even realized it, Lucas was flipped over the man, slammed to the ground, punched in the face and stabbed in the shoulder with a knife.

Lucas screamed out in pain for a fraction of a second before the old man’s hand was on Lucas’s mouth.

“Keep your voice down, you wimp,” the surprisingly strong old man said. And now that Lucas got a better look at him, he was not really that old.

“You gonna be quiet?” the man asked.

Hand still on his mouth, Lucas nodded, vigorously.

The man grabbed the long knife and drew it swiftly out of Lucas’s shoulder. Lucas winced but the knife was pointed back at his eyes so quickly that he suppressed anything audible.

“God, you disgust me,” the man said. “I wish you would stop this petty thievery, you’re terrible at it.”

Lucas cocked his head. “Do I know you?”

The man just laughed.

“Look,” Lucas said. I’m s- sorry I tried to rob you, just let me go, p- please don’t kill me.”

The man looked Lucas In the eyes. “I can’t kill you. Believe me, I want to. But I can’t.”

“Wh- Why? Lucas asked.

The man pulled back his shirt collar to reveal an old scar from a stab wound in his shoulder. “Because I AM you!”

(The word prompt today was “You.”)

[– 31 Fantasy Characters in 31 Days –]