Hypothetically speaking...?

I would take the shortest path of course...Lol!!! If you walk around and fear like that, then you need to change something in your psychology...Sorry about that, but that is the truth and I need to say it....Martial arts can not be much of an aid if you behave like in a horror movie...You should relax and enjoy life....Avoiding a short cut of 20 minutes while walking in the rain is a sign that you live in terror....Martial artist or not, I do not know anyone that would not take the short cut...Also I often go out at night for a walk, in whatever places, as a light form of exercise...

I would pick the brightly lit street, because its a lower risk area and the chances of a fight would also be significantly lower. One of the main things about being a martial artist is avoiding fights and you're deliberately putting yourself in a dangerous position if you walk down the dark street.

Brightly lit.

All great battles were won without fighting.

By going into the potentially dangerous area, then I just gave myself more work. This question can be translated into a metaphor of speed limits. Do you speed to get home earlier? Or do you wait 2 extra minutes and be safe?

The difference between a student and a master is not how fast you move or how hard you hit. It isn't whether or not you can perform the movement flawlessly every time; it's can you think. If you deliberately put yourself in a position where you may have to get into a fight then you still need to learn to consider the consequences of your actions. Just because attack, doesn't mean you should. Just because you can beat someone doesn't mean that you should put yourself in a position to fight. Knowledge brings power and power brings responsibility. When you gain the power to impose your will on another, then you have a responsibility to not abuse it or practice it just because of the adrenaline rush you get in a fight.

In short you take the longer road because if you don't you're choosing to put yourself in a situation where you could end up in a fight and even take someone's life. The purpose of martial arts has never been to kill or harm needlessly.

Brightly lit.

I love the lights shining and reflecting off the road on a rainy day.

Who knows, I might want to stop at a coffee shop on the way home.

If I had to be on time for something though, I might go down the dark alley... into the abyss... void... and death... no coffee down that road :(

The horror.

The safe path. You never know what's down the other path, it could be just too much for you.

Part of being a martial artist is knowing to avoid fights. You don't put yourself in situations where you know you would get into a fight just because you know you can defend yourself. Martial arts is used as a last resort after avoidance, and you never know what's down that street.

Brightly lit

No matter how good you are, fighting in the dark, rain, and with the possibility of being outgunned and outnumbered always sucks and is never in your favor. Unless you're Kurt Russell:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsFLyloTDOU

Fighting in the rain sucks. I take the safe path. Besides I like the rain.

In an altercation I risk losing time with not just the fight which I might win or lose, I might have to wait for the police, ambulance, deal with court appearance. I might lose my wallet. Who knows all the crap I might have to deal with? Yea I might lose my life and that realy sucks.

I love the rain! I would take the longest route possible.

Hypothetically speaking.....

If you are as good as Bruce Lee, but you encounter someone with a gun, you skill is useless.