Post by Zeniro on Mar 13, 2008 14:12:33 GMT 1
I sat alone in a booth, in some run down café in some dirty town. My hand groped at the inside pocket of my dark trench coat, I noticed a young woman sat across from me eyeing me nervously. Does she really think I'm reaching for my piece? I offer her a simple smile as my hand withdraws a worn out pack of cheap cigars and an equally battered box of matches. She offers no reaction, but I imagine that I can see the relief in her eyes.
I tap a cigar out of the pack and place it between my lips, this act in itself is oddly comforting. I always say I'm going to quit...but a cheap cigar perched between your lips, it just feels too damn good to let go. I strike a match and light the cigar. Oh man, and there's that smell. I close my eyes and it takes me back to my childhood, I'm sat on my grandads porch and he's smoking a fine looking cigar. The air is heavy with the smell.
"What can I get ya mister?"
My eyes flicker open, at first all I register is the haze of smoke clouding before my eyes. Then I get a name badge on some cheap nylon dress. 'Betty.' I smile as I remove the cigar from my lips, smoke rolling slowly out of my mouth before I exhale away from Betty. I turn my attention back to her as I answer her.
"I'd like a coffee. Strong and black, no sugar. Thank you."
Betty scribbles this down in shorthand, offers only a grunt in recognition before stalking off to fix my drink. I sit back into the faux leather of the seat. It's actually quite comfortable, and it's a hell of a lot warmer in this café than it is out there. For a city, this place gets damned cold. It's a strange coldness...its chilling you to the bone before you can even see your breath. I've been here two days and I already hate this place.
All that though, all that's about to change. The door to the café swings open, at first I don't take her in properly. I'm too busy taking a long draw on my cigar, savouring the poison as it fills my lungs. I imagine the mili seconds of borrowed time draining away from my life. It's only when I see her face that I really take notice of her. What stands out about this woman isn't her shoulder length brunette hair, nor her figure that stands out despite being plainly clad in tight blue jeans and a figure hugging white T-shirt. No what really struck me was those eyes. They were blue...They were the type of blue you find on post cards from alpine villages, where crisp blue skies reflect in the crystaline surfaces of expansive lakes. Her eyes literally shimmered as they caught the light.
She was beautiful, and she was looking right at me. Not through me, but at me. Her full cherry red lips curled into a smile and then the moment was gone, and I didn't do a thing. I couldn't...I mean she can't have really been looking at me could she? I briefly glance over my shoulder. The booth behind me is empty. She was fucking looking at me and I didn't do a thing.
"Here's your coffee mister."
My eyes snap toward Betty. I clear my throat and can only offer a husky reply of grattitude before she turns away to find her next customer. I sigh heavily and take a long drink of the thick black tar that they call coffee in this town, as I place down my cup I catch sight of her leaving. On inpulse my legs lift me to my feet, I place more than enough money down to cover the cost of my drink as well as a generous tip. Then i'm out that door and into the night.
I step into the inky blackness and the cold is at my throat like a razor blade. Oh shit. That's not the cold...that's a fucking razor. I stop myself swallowing in fear of that keen edge slicing into my skin. I raise my hands slowly, to show that i'm not armed. My mind races through it's options. The gun inside my jacket pocket? The blade concealed in my hat? Or perhaps the long switch blade hidden up my sleave.
"We've been expecting you Mr."
I swallow this time, and I was right that keen edge presses into my skin enough to trace a thin line of blood across my throat. How the fuck did they know I was in town. This was going to make my job a lot harder. For some reason this fact didn't piss me off, what really pissed me off was the fact that I wasn't going to be able to catch up with that woman.
"Ah you got me, now it's your call. Are you going to stand with that blade to my throat all night or-..."
The crack of pistol fire almost deafens my left ear. The world around me turns white, the only sound is a high pitched wail. Their is however a wet sensation on the back of my neck, i'm thankful that it isn't my throat. I stagger forward blindly reaching for the pistol inside my jacket. I turn around, my would be kidnapper/killer is laying in a rapidly increasing pool of blood. Not ten feet away is an Angel. Her blue eyes shimmer in what little light this alley has to offer. Her hands tremble, but it wasn't fear. Her eyes betrayed no such emotion...it was adrenaline.
"I should have known, you're an Angel."
The woman's eyes came to rest on me once again. I felt the breath being sucked out of my lungs and a heat rising in my flesh. She lowered her gun steadily. I offered out my hand, stepping forward slowly. I think instinctively she knew what I wanted. I'm thankful that she trusted me enough to place the gun in my hand. I wiped it for prints and checked the corpse on the floor. The bullet had entered the temple, I placed the gun in the corresponding hand of the recently deceased. She had just shot one of the most feared assassains in this city in the head. At that moment our lives became inextricably linked. She had saved my life, and in doing so had placed her own in jeapordy. I owed her enough not to leave her.
"Thank you, come on. We wont have long...i'm staying near here. We need to get off the streets."
The blue eyed angel nodded and we entered the darkness of the cities allies. Careful to avoid all human contact on the way. I'd turned the collar of my jacket up to conceal the blood stains on my shirt. We walked in silence until we got to my room in some cheap hotel. The night security gaurd had fallen asleep with his feet up on the counter, his hat tipped lazily over his eyes.
I closed the door softly behind me and let out a slow calming breath. I needed to get cleaned up...I needed sleep...I needed time to think. I turned around and I was met by that crystaline blue gaze.
"I don't know who you are, but I owe you my life. That man you killed. Let's just say he's possibly the most dangerous man in this city. Other than the man who employs him."
I paused, as she spoke.
"My name is Desirae."
She spoke in soft tones, her voice sent a shiver right through me. I smiled warmly as I nodded my head.
"That's a beautiful name."
She smiled, and I thought I saw her pale skin blush for just a moment, but then that moment had faded. She looked toward the bathroom.
"Do you mind if I take a shower...I need to clean up."
I shook my head slowly.
"Please, be my guest."
She walked off to the shower and I heard her switch on the water. Fortunately there was a spare blanket and pillow in the bottom of a cheap wardrobe. I tossed these onto the floor besides the double bed. I'd sleep a little rougher tonight, but atleast I'd be indoors. In the mirror on the wall I noticed the bathroom door open slightly. I resisted the urge to turn around and take a proper look. Instead I busied myself with making my make shift bed and making sure the curtains were drawn and that the door was locked and latched.
Desirae hummed while she showered, I don't know what the tune was, but I closed my eyes any way and let the melody wash over me. It was beautiful, almost as beautiful as her eyes. In my minds eyes I caught glimpses of that first moment that I laid eyes on her. This wasn't how I wanted to meet her, but I know now that we met for a reason...no one saves your life for nothing. Now I had to stay alive to protect her from the men who would un doubtedly be sent out to kill her and me. I had more than myself to look out for now, and so did Desirae. We were going to need each other if we wanted to stay alive. I cursed softly under my breath. She didn't deserve to be a part of what was to come.
Side Note:
I didn't get much sleep at all last night, so I decided to try my hand at something a little different and this was the end product.
Now I'm not usually one for writing short stories, but i must say that I enjoyed the process of doing this last night, as a result i'm thinking of maybe making this into something a little more substantial rather than the snippet I've posted up here now.
At the moment I'm writing some brief backgrounds for the two main characters at the moment. I've got a few ideas for some other characters who will appear in the story, should I continue to write it. I'm also working on some rough plot outlines. I know Where i want to take it...it's just the getting there that'll be the hard slog for me.
Any tips/criticisms as always are more than welcome. I know some of you guys are quite talented when it comes to this so anything you can pass onto me would be a great help.
I tap a cigar out of the pack and place it between my lips, this act in itself is oddly comforting. I always say I'm going to quit...but a cheap cigar perched between your lips, it just feels too damn good to let go. I strike a match and light the cigar. Oh man, and there's that smell. I close my eyes and it takes me back to my childhood, I'm sat on my grandads porch and he's smoking a fine looking cigar. The air is heavy with the smell.
"What can I get ya mister?"
My eyes flicker open, at first all I register is the haze of smoke clouding before my eyes. Then I get a name badge on some cheap nylon dress. 'Betty.' I smile as I remove the cigar from my lips, smoke rolling slowly out of my mouth before I exhale away from Betty. I turn my attention back to her as I answer her.
"I'd like a coffee. Strong and black, no sugar. Thank you."
Betty scribbles this down in shorthand, offers only a grunt in recognition before stalking off to fix my drink. I sit back into the faux leather of the seat. It's actually quite comfortable, and it's a hell of a lot warmer in this café than it is out there. For a city, this place gets damned cold. It's a strange coldness...its chilling you to the bone before you can even see your breath. I've been here two days and I already hate this place.
All that though, all that's about to change. The door to the café swings open, at first I don't take her in properly. I'm too busy taking a long draw on my cigar, savouring the poison as it fills my lungs. I imagine the mili seconds of borrowed time draining away from my life. It's only when I see her face that I really take notice of her. What stands out about this woman isn't her shoulder length brunette hair, nor her figure that stands out despite being plainly clad in tight blue jeans and a figure hugging white T-shirt. No what really struck me was those eyes. They were blue...They were the type of blue you find on post cards from alpine villages, where crisp blue skies reflect in the crystaline surfaces of expansive lakes. Her eyes literally shimmered as they caught the light.
She was beautiful, and she was looking right at me. Not through me, but at me. Her full cherry red lips curled into a smile and then the moment was gone, and I didn't do a thing. I couldn't...I mean she can't have really been looking at me could she? I briefly glance over my shoulder. The booth behind me is empty. She was fucking looking at me and I didn't do a thing.
"Here's your coffee mister."
My eyes snap toward Betty. I clear my throat and can only offer a husky reply of grattitude before she turns away to find her next customer. I sigh heavily and take a long drink of the thick black tar that they call coffee in this town, as I place down my cup I catch sight of her leaving. On inpulse my legs lift me to my feet, I place more than enough money down to cover the cost of my drink as well as a generous tip. Then i'm out that door and into the night.
I step into the inky blackness and the cold is at my throat like a razor blade. Oh shit. That's not the cold...that's a fucking razor. I stop myself swallowing in fear of that keen edge slicing into my skin. I raise my hands slowly, to show that i'm not armed. My mind races through it's options. The gun inside my jacket pocket? The blade concealed in my hat? Or perhaps the long switch blade hidden up my sleave.
"We've been expecting you Mr."
I swallow this time, and I was right that keen edge presses into my skin enough to trace a thin line of blood across my throat. How the fuck did they know I was in town. This was going to make my job a lot harder. For some reason this fact didn't piss me off, what really pissed me off was the fact that I wasn't going to be able to catch up with that woman.
"Ah you got me, now it's your call. Are you going to stand with that blade to my throat all night or-..."
The crack of pistol fire almost deafens my left ear. The world around me turns white, the only sound is a high pitched wail. Their is however a wet sensation on the back of my neck, i'm thankful that it isn't my throat. I stagger forward blindly reaching for the pistol inside my jacket. I turn around, my would be kidnapper/killer is laying in a rapidly increasing pool of blood. Not ten feet away is an Angel. Her blue eyes shimmer in what little light this alley has to offer. Her hands tremble, but it wasn't fear. Her eyes betrayed no such emotion...it was adrenaline.
"I should have known, you're an Angel."
The woman's eyes came to rest on me once again. I felt the breath being sucked out of my lungs and a heat rising in my flesh. She lowered her gun steadily. I offered out my hand, stepping forward slowly. I think instinctively she knew what I wanted. I'm thankful that she trusted me enough to place the gun in my hand. I wiped it for prints and checked the corpse on the floor. The bullet had entered the temple, I placed the gun in the corresponding hand of the recently deceased. She had just shot one of the most feared assassains in this city in the head. At that moment our lives became inextricably linked. She had saved my life, and in doing so had placed her own in jeapordy. I owed her enough not to leave her.
"Thank you, come on. We wont have long...i'm staying near here. We need to get off the streets."
The blue eyed angel nodded and we entered the darkness of the cities allies. Careful to avoid all human contact on the way. I'd turned the collar of my jacket up to conceal the blood stains on my shirt. We walked in silence until we got to my room in some cheap hotel. The night security gaurd had fallen asleep with his feet up on the counter, his hat tipped lazily over his eyes.
I closed the door softly behind me and let out a slow calming breath. I needed to get cleaned up...I needed sleep...I needed time to think. I turned around and I was met by that crystaline blue gaze.
"I don't know who you are, but I owe you my life. That man you killed. Let's just say he's possibly the most dangerous man in this city. Other than the man who employs him."
I paused, as she spoke.
"My name is Desirae."
She spoke in soft tones, her voice sent a shiver right through me. I smiled warmly as I nodded my head.
"That's a beautiful name."
She smiled, and I thought I saw her pale skin blush for just a moment, but then that moment had faded. She looked toward the bathroom.
"Do you mind if I take a shower...I need to clean up."
I shook my head slowly.
"Please, be my guest."
She walked off to the shower and I heard her switch on the water. Fortunately there was a spare blanket and pillow in the bottom of a cheap wardrobe. I tossed these onto the floor besides the double bed. I'd sleep a little rougher tonight, but atleast I'd be indoors. In the mirror on the wall I noticed the bathroom door open slightly. I resisted the urge to turn around and take a proper look. Instead I busied myself with making my make shift bed and making sure the curtains were drawn and that the door was locked and latched.
Desirae hummed while she showered, I don't know what the tune was, but I closed my eyes any way and let the melody wash over me. It was beautiful, almost as beautiful as her eyes. In my minds eyes I caught glimpses of that first moment that I laid eyes on her. This wasn't how I wanted to meet her, but I know now that we met for a reason...no one saves your life for nothing. Now I had to stay alive to protect her from the men who would un doubtedly be sent out to kill her and me. I had more than myself to look out for now, and so did Desirae. We were going to need each other if we wanted to stay alive. I cursed softly under my breath. She didn't deserve to be a part of what was to come.
Side Note:
I didn't get much sleep at all last night, so I decided to try my hand at something a little different and this was the end product.
Now I'm not usually one for writing short stories, but i must say that I enjoyed the process of doing this last night, as a result i'm thinking of maybe making this into something a little more substantial rather than the snippet I've posted up here now.
At the moment I'm writing some brief backgrounds for the two main characters at the moment. I've got a few ideas for some other characters who will appear in the story, should I continue to write it. I'm also working on some rough plot outlines. I know Where i want to take it...it's just the getting there that'll be the hard slog for me.
Any tips/criticisms as always are more than welcome. I know some of you guys are quite talented when it comes to this so anything you can pass onto me would be a great help.
