A dangerous fog hung over the city, obscuring all its beauty. Buckets of rain soaked the air and turned the weather in a colder direction. Late autumn showers seemed to keep an unpredictable pattern, never knowing which day exactly to spread its rain. Driving through the downpour and murkiness wasn’t necessarily the best idea, but sitting around at home waiting for the storm to pass wasn’t exactly Kate’s forte.
Letting a sigh escape her lips, she carefully turned the corner onto an even riskier road and continued on her pointless journey. No matter how badly she wanted to, Kate couldn’t push harder than twenty miles an hour. The roads were slick and her vision was impaired by the relentless rain. She grumbled as she slowed down to a stop due to the traffic in front of her. Other than the pounding water drops against her car, the other cars, and the road, Kate was in silence. She never liked when it was so quiet, because then she was forced to think – to come to terms with all she was dealing with. Her quiet time was never quite peaceful, and the peace she so desperately coveted failed to make its presence known.
The shrill of her cell phone ringing pulled Kate out of her reverie. Briskly digging through her purse, she retrieved the ringing phone.
“Hello?” She spoke calmly, despite her annoyance.
“Hello. You have cordially been invited to attend–”
Kate rolled her eyes. “Shut up, Brian.”
“Hurtful,” he said with mock sadness. “All I was doing was inviting you to join me tonight.”
She sighed, closing her eyes in attempt to compose herself. “I’m sorry. I just…I’m having one of those days, you know?”
“I know. But do you think you’d want to go out tonight?” he asked with slight hope.
“Where could we possibly go tonight? It’s raining like mad and doesn’t seem like it’s going to get any better.” Kate observed the weather surrounding her car as she repeatedly pressed on the gas, then the brakes, moving with the start/stop flow of the traffic.
“I know a place,” Brian insisted.
“That doesn’t sound too reassuring,” she joked, semi-serious.
“C’mon, Kate. Loosen up and trust me,” he advised, noting the hesitance in her voice. “When’s the last time you took a chance and did something that was a step out of your safety zone?”
Kate was silent, half angry at his lack of faith in her risk-taking ability, half trying to remember the last time it actually was when she took a risk.
Brian, perceiving her silence as a means to continue, spoke softly enough to persuade her, “It’s just a night out. Where’s the danger in that?”
Kate sighed. If there was one thing she knew, it was that danger was everywhere, lurking around hoping to get you when you’re the least expectant. But, nevertheless, she agreed. “Fine, you can take me out. But just know you’re footing the bill…and the next two.”
“Alright!” he exclaimed. “Where are you anyway?”
“I am in my car. I didn’t feel like sitting around at home, so I decided sitting in my car stuck in traffic and endless rain was a better option,” she rambled indignantly.
“Well, wherever you are, come my way. I’ve got some cheering up to do,” he announced happily.
Kate laughed at his childish tone. “Alright, if I ever get out of this traffic.” As soon as she said it, the cars up ahead began moving again. “I’ll be there soon.”
“Okay. See ya later.” Then the dial tone sounded.
Kate tossed her phone onto the passenger seat and drove to her destination, hoping her mood would soon be uplifted.
(((o)))
It was suffocating. Everything about it just screamed run away, but that was half of the thrill. This was something different for her and the excitement of being unpredictable – even once in her life – produced butterflies in her stomach. But as she squeezed her way through the sweaty dancing bodies and ignored the blaring music, Kate couldn’t keep the annoyed look off her face. Finally, she thought as she reached the balcony doors. She could feel the cold emanating through the glass. The rain had stopped a few hours ago, washed the city clean, and the light glistened off the drops of rain that covered buildings, roads, and sidewalks. With a glance back towards the booming dance hall, Kate slid open the balcony doors and slipped outside.
Closing her eyes, she inhaled as much of the crisp, after-rain air as she could manage, then exhaled, letting all her frustration go as well. The mix of enticement and irritation was physically draining, so Kate shuffled over to the railing and leaned heavily against it. She was alone again, with her own thoughts. Just like always, the secret pain that she kept hidden deep in her heart rose to the surface, faltering her mood. No matter what she did, she couldn’t escape the night her fear was born; the night that her father killed her mother, then turned the weapon on himself. The worst part was that she had to witness it and every time she closed her eyes, the scene was splayed out in front of her, as it was all those years ago – and the shock was just as fresh.
Completely consumed in her thoughts, Kate was oblivious to the sound of the door opening. “Kate?”
The figure slowly walked up behind her and placed a hand on her shoulder. Kate spun around quickly with a fearful expression covering her face, making the person take a step back and raise their hands in defense.
“It’s only me.”
“You scared the crap out of me!” she replied, placing a hand over her heart, trying to slow its intense beating.
“Sorry,” Brian chuckled slightly. “You disappeared and I got worried. You have a knack for getting into trouble.”
Kate gave a small smile. It was true. Wherever she went, danger was sure to find her. “Yeah, sorry. I just needed some air. This isn’t exactly my scene,” she said and gestured to the glass doors, where the dancers continued to move erratically to the beat on the other side.
“I know, but I thought doing something different could help,” he spoke softly, rubbing her back comfortingly.
“Well, thanks for the effort, but I think I’m going to head out,” she said as she moved tiredly toward the doors. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“You sure you don’t want me to take you home?” he asked, following her.
“No, I don’t want to end your night. I’ll be fine,” she smiled reassuringly.
“Alright, call me later.” He embraced her for a brief moment. She poked at his stomach with friendly intent before disappearing back into the club.
Since the few blocks between the club and her apartment was walking distance, Kate took the opportunity to save money on cab fare. Besides, the city air was to the right degree – considering it was in the middle of October – and a walk seemed to be the perfect remedy for clearing her mind. The streets were calm and vacant – unusual for New York – but quite peaceful if Kate dare say it. Walking along the buildings, she passed a few empty alleyways, but thought nothing of them. So, for some inexplicable reason, her gaze turned into one dark alley and she stopped her dead in her tracks. Hovering over a motionless body, Kate saw a shadowy creature who somewhat resembled a human being, but she knew it wasn’t. An involuntary gasp escaped her lips, causing the creature to whip around. The first thought to pop into her head was to run, but her feet were stuck to the pavement. She couldn’t move her legs and she couldn’t move her gaze. The brute snarled, seeming ready to attack. Yes, danger had found her.
Letting a sigh escape her lips, she carefully turned the corner onto an even riskier road and continued on her pointless journey. No matter how badly she wanted to, Kate couldn’t push harder than twenty miles an hour. The roads were slick and her vision was impaired by the relentless rain. She grumbled as she slowed down to a stop due to the traffic in front of her. Other than the pounding water drops against her car, the other cars, and the road, Kate was in silence. She never liked when it was so quiet, because then she was forced to think – to come to terms with all she was dealing with. Her quiet time was never quite peaceful, and the peace she so desperately coveted failed to make its presence known.
The shrill of her cell phone ringing pulled Kate out of her reverie. Briskly digging through her purse, she retrieved the ringing phone.
“Hello?” She spoke calmly, despite her annoyance.
“Hello. You have cordially been invited to attend–”
Kate rolled her eyes. “Shut up, Brian.”
“Hurtful,” he said with mock sadness. “All I was doing was inviting you to join me tonight.”
She sighed, closing her eyes in attempt to compose herself. “I’m sorry. I just…I’m having one of those days, you know?”
“I know. But do you think you’d want to go out tonight?” he asked with slight hope.
“Where could we possibly go tonight? It’s raining like mad and doesn’t seem like it’s going to get any better.” Kate observed the weather surrounding her car as she repeatedly pressed on the gas, then the brakes, moving with the start/stop flow of the traffic.
“I know a place,” Brian insisted.
“That doesn’t sound too reassuring,” she joked, semi-serious.
“C’mon, Kate. Loosen up and trust me,” he advised, noting the hesitance in her voice. “When’s the last time you took a chance and did something that was a step out of your safety zone?”
Kate was silent, half angry at his lack of faith in her risk-taking ability, half trying to remember the last time it actually was when she took a risk.
Brian, perceiving her silence as a means to continue, spoke softly enough to persuade her, “It’s just a night out. Where’s the danger in that?”
Kate sighed. If there was one thing she knew, it was that danger was everywhere, lurking around hoping to get you when you’re the least expectant. But, nevertheless, she agreed. “Fine, you can take me out. But just know you’re footing the bill…and the next two.”
“Alright!” he exclaimed. “Where are you anyway?”
“I am in my car. I didn’t feel like sitting around at home, so I decided sitting in my car stuck in traffic and endless rain was a better option,” she rambled indignantly.
“Well, wherever you are, come my way. I’ve got some cheering up to do,” he announced happily.
Kate laughed at his childish tone. “Alright, if I ever get out of this traffic.” As soon as she said it, the cars up ahead began moving again. “I’ll be there soon.”
“Okay. See ya later.” Then the dial tone sounded.
Kate tossed her phone onto the passenger seat and drove to her destination, hoping her mood would soon be uplifted.
(((o)))
It was suffocating. Everything about it just screamed run away, but that was half of the thrill. This was something different for her and the excitement of being unpredictable – even once in her life – produced butterflies in her stomach. But as she squeezed her way through the sweaty dancing bodies and ignored the blaring music, Kate couldn’t keep the annoyed look off her face. Finally, she thought as she reached the balcony doors. She could feel the cold emanating through the glass. The rain had stopped a few hours ago, washed the city clean, and the light glistened off the drops of rain that covered buildings, roads, and sidewalks. With a glance back towards the booming dance hall, Kate slid open the balcony doors and slipped outside.
Closing her eyes, she inhaled as much of the crisp, after-rain air as she could manage, then exhaled, letting all her frustration go as well. The mix of enticement and irritation was physically draining, so Kate shuffled over to the railing and leaned heavily against it. She was alone again, with her own thoughts. Just like always, the secret pain that she kept hidden deep in her heart rose to the surface, faltering her mood. No matter what she did, she couldn’t escape the night her fear was born; the night that her father killed her mother, then turned the weapon on himself. The worst part was that she had to witness it and every time she closed her eyes, the scene was splayed out in front of her, as it was all those years ago – and the shock was just as fresh.
Completely consumed in her thoughts, Kate was oblivious to the sound of the door opening. “Kate?”
The figure slowly walked up behind her and placed a hand on her shoulder. Kate spun around quickly with a fearful expression covering her face, making the person take a step back and raise their hands in defense.
“It’s only me.”
“You scared the crap out of me!” she replied, placing a hand over her heart, trying to slow its intense beating.
“Sorry,” Brian chuckled slightly. “You disappeared and I got worried. You have a knack for getting into trouble.”
Kate gave a small smile. It was true. Wherever she went, danger was sure to find her. “Yeah, sorry. I just needed some air. This isn’t exactly my scene,” she said and gestured to the glass doors, where the dancers continued to move erratically to the beat on the other side.
“I know, but I thought doing something different could help,” he spoke softly, rubbing her back comfortingly.
“Well, thanks for the effort, but I think I’m going to head out,” she said as she moved tiredly toward the doors. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“You sure you don’t want me to take you home?” he asked, following her.
“No, I don’t want to end your night. I’ll be fine,” she smiled reassuringly.
“Alright, call me later.” He embraced her for a brief moment. She poked at his stomach with friendly intent before disappearing back into the club.
Since the few blocks between the club and her apartment was walking distance, Kate took the opportunity to save money on cab fare. Besides, the city air was to the right degree – considering it was in the middle of October – and a walk seemed to be the perfect remedy for clearing her mind. The streets were calm and vacant – unusual for New York – but quite peaceful if Kate dare say it. Walking along the buildings, she passed a few empty alleyways, but thought nothing of them. So, for some inexplicable reason, her gaze turned into one dark alley and she stopped her dead in her tracks. Hovering over a motionless body, Kate saw a shadowy creature who somewhat resembled a human being, but she knew it wasn’t. An involuntary gasp escaped her lips, causing the creature to whip around. The first thought to pop into her head was to run, but her feet were stuck to the pavement. She couldn’t move her legs and she couldn’t move her gaze. The brute snarled, seeming ready to attack. Yes, danger had found her.
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