“Well, would ya look here,” the blond man sneered, standing in her way. “Where’s a little chickie like you going?”

“Let me pass,” Jana said.

“I own this stairwell,” the man said. “I own everything here, just so you know. And if you want to get past me, you’re gonna have to pay.”

“Let me pass,” Jana repeated.

“If you pay.”

He came closer, and the stink of sour sweat forced its way into her nostrils.

“I’m not going to pay.”

“Then I’ll make you,” the blond said. Jana noticed that he took something from his pocket. She heard a clicking sound as he popped the blade from the shaft of a jackknife.

She felt the familiar calm wash over her as she slowly raised her head and looked the blond man in the eyes.

“Let me pass,” she repeated. “I will hurt you if you don’t let me pass right now.”

The blond man took a step backward, holding the knife and jabbing it toward her. He sneered with narrow, threatening eyes.

“Watch yourself,” Jana said, following the man’s jerky, arrhythmic movements.

“Or what?” he said. “You’ll spit on me? Scratch me with your painted nails?”

“I’ll take the knife from you and kick your knee out.”

The blond man laughed.

“Do you hear that, Mogge? She’s going to kick my knee out. Now I’m scared. Woooo!”

“Make her shut up, the little cunt,” the dark man said.

“What did you call me?” Jana said.

“Little cunt. You like that, dontcha?”

The blond man stepped forward. The attack came quickly; Jana saw the light reflect on the blade and ducked.

“This is your last warning,” she said. “Put the knife down.”

“I’m gonna make you shut up,” the blond said, and Jana twisted to avoid another lunge.

She stretched out her fingers and then didn’t need to think consciously anymore. Everything happened quickly; she was acting on instinct. The moments followed one after another with lightning-quick reflexes.

She bent the blond man’s wrist and used her other hand to help redirect the movement, then wrenched the knife out of his hand and into hers. She shifted her weight and kicked sideways toward his knee. As he doubled over, she shifted her weight again, twisted her body and kicked once more.

The man fell backward and lay unconscious on the ground.

Jana turned her gaze to the dark man who now stood with his back pressed to the wall. She twirled the knife between her fingers and threw it. The tip slid through his hand and buried itself deep into the wall behind him. Blood gushed onto the ground. The man howled when he realized that he was stuck to the wall.

Jana walked toward him and stood close.