“Not anymore it ain’t!”, laughed the gang leader and nodded at the boy to Howard’s right to move in behind Howard.

 

“Give it back!”, Howard demanded, “Or I’ll call the police!”

 

“Jose,” the leader smirked, “show DASHface here why he’s not calling anyone!”

 

Howard heard the ominous double click of a ballisong’s handle being snapped open behind him. The boy closed with Howard to shield the knife from public view as he pushed the point of the oriental weapon into the soft tissue to the immediate left of Howard’s spine. Howard froze as he felt the point penetrate his clothing to prick the skin on the vulnerable area of his back. Howard didn’t know exactly what kind of knife the gang member had poised threateningly over his spleen and kidney but the sharpness of its tip left no doubt in his mind what it was. He was afraid that if he moved suddenly or shouted, the boy behind him would stab him immediately in revenge.