Back inside the shared apartment, Leah stared at the notification confirming her rental request had been rejected, and her account blacklisted, stunned and speechless.
Sensing that something had gone wrong, the vagrant dropped his half-peeled apple and advanced toward her step by step. "Where is the vehicle?"
"I… my credit limit isn't enough. Something came up with my contact…" Leah stumbled backward, her voice trembling.
The vagrant snatched her cellphone and saw the rental rejection notice along with the debt collection messages. "You wretched woman, how dare you toy with me? You never had the means to get me out of the city!"
Dropping all pretense, he swung his palm hard across Leah's face. Leah screamed and collapsed, slamming her head sharply against the edge of the coffee table.
