Drip, drip, drip, A lone young man walked as he chuckled at what was dripping on the floor, "I guess, this is the end boo," Then drip, drip, drip the man slowly slumped on the nearest broken wall after he stepped out of the rain unsteady.
"Boo, I'm so tired," He said to himself as he looked up, the drizzle slowly began to intensify, and the darkened clouds that covered the moonless night tonight.
The man then clicked his tongue loudly as he looked around the darkened barely lit alley to see any sign of anyone. He looked up again in delight as he always loved the pouring rain as it reminds him of home. There was probably no point wishing for the rain to stop. Given that there was hardly anyone around, the rain had been falling for some time now.
"It makes no difference now," He thought as he stared at the downpour, and the memories of his childhood washed over him. Long ago, he had to believe that he could reach a much better life than his blood-soaked fistful days someday.
His eyes were downcast as he turned left and right. All alone in this dark and damped alley, the man did not choose to be here, but the dry market place close by became quite a familiar place he recently visited, it was a short left turn away from the main street.
"I wished you could've seen this place you'd loved it after visiting this place when it's busy," He said without anyone hearing it. He didn't care that he was talking to himself, no one was listening anyway, even if he only said it because of mere wishful thinking.
Then he heard a beeping sound that drawn-out his attention away from the pouring located particularly on his left pocket, which made him smile.
Slowly, he took out his phone, but groaned unpleasantly, when it revealed that it had a cracked but, working screen. Still, "beggars can never be choosers," he thought.
Then he held it up as preciously, as possible, like the phone itself was his lover's hand, till he could see it. After all, the troubling things tonight it would be a miracle if it wasn't. But, what was the most surprising was that it still worked as it lit itself up, he then breathed a sigh of relief.
Drip, drip, drip, the man then wiped the wet screen within the dried inside part of his tattered black suit as an enchanted feeling grew in his heart when he could finally visibly see an image of a young woman with golden-hair that flowed gracefully over her shoulders. He smiled and greeted her with the words, "Hello, boo!" longingly, as he began to chuckle once more as he was entirely unconcerned by the fact that he was thoroughly drenched.
He looked at the time and said, "Half-past midnight, then I guess it is time, I'll see you soon, boo," then he gave all into focus on the only thing that matters the most to him right now.
"Boo, it's getting cold," he exclaimed.
He knew he had lost his cool, as his dark hair was coated by the rain, as he sat uncomfortably, losing his strength and touch in reality.
Drip, drip, drip, slowly it poured.
Something was amiss here, and the dripping sound other than the rain filtered into his ears. It was completely different from the rain, he then stopped, and check the source of the unpleasant pour and failed to realize the dreaded state.
He had been ignoring it all along for far too long probably due to all of the adrenaline, he then mustered all of his remaining strength and raised his other hand, the one soaked in heavily but not by the rain but something more unpleasant, it was his blood that was dripping.
Silent for a moment, then hurriedly, he tried to call for his emergency contact but came to the realization that he took too damn long, and now he felt senses on his fingers disappeared, then he dropped the phone, which bounced once on the floor. "Boo," He said in regret.
Nobody could save him now, he thought, as he slowly loses all hope, still he did not want to let the image of her away from him.
Repeatedly, he tried reaching with his hand but was unable too as it led to him bleeding even more until he finally was unable to do so.
He kept staring at the distant phone filled with emotions because there was nothing around him except rain and darkness, for she gave him his only semblance of light in this bleak world of his.
He slowly exhaled again, acknowledging that it was already far too late, he looked silently at his sky, and not the one above but her in his mind, and he showed his famous endearing little grin of his. "I knew I screwed up big this time around, but even then, every second that had passed, I kept missing you, and that now you're gone, I just kept thinking boo, I now know I was stupid, and now nothing matters anymore but the beautiful memories of you, there's a lot I want to talk about but,"
But, "Sorry," was the only and last melancholic word he spoke, before he closed his eyes, at last, then a single tear that flowed down on his cheek as her smiling image and his vision faded as the cold night wind whistled past him, then the rain finally stopped.
Then a moment passed unbeknownst to him, then his phone sprang to life, carrying the very words he wanted to hear like the whispers of a ghost.
Boo.
*******
A young man dressed in a darkened hoody slowly emerged from one end of the many alleys linking to this very avenue and beholding a what seems like a drenched item within a plastic bag about the size of a man's head dripping what looks like blood.
"Damn it, bad, bad 'execution' what a freaking mess, now way too much red, this will leak, ugh..." He groaned ominously, as he began placing it within another recyclable bag, he brought earlier.
Such a shady character emerged out of nowhere, was now standing in the middle of orderly chaos, and he knew this place quite well as this was the dry market he frequently passed in, to ride the bus to go to his destination.
Most places something like him emerging unnoticed was quite difficult not to stand out. But, this market was so far too often hectic that such things are often too trivial for matter and only big enough a scene-stealing could attract everyone's attention, and thank god for that.
He never liked this place, and for reasons explicit enough that he exasperates every time he thought of it, so he pulled his hood down further covering his face even more and strode along carrying his wrapped cargo.
This place has all sorts of people rummaging every nook and cranny. Children laugh, people bargained and chattered, pigeons flew, merchants selling their wares, and a noisy lady yelling at an elder store owner, the bustling scene in midday was pleasing to him, after all, he grew in this very streets.
His dark brown eyes slanted upwards, giving him the characteristic of someone glaring at others, with ill intentions, that made people think that he was the kind of person who hung around with criminals, and low-lives in gloomy back alleys. Quite useful in making others leave him alone and go on in their business.
After all, the rumors circulating were all incredibly shady about his character, with hardly a single positive word about him.
As the summer days were nearly over, and fall was about to fall soon.
Slowly, he reached for his phone and started playing a classic hit song, then wore his earpiece. Tapping his legs gleefully, he strode haughtily against the busy flow of the traffic like he owned the place, as every nonchalant step, he'd make the people gave him the way.
Quite a few people turned to watch as the young man strode by in style, drawn by his devil may care attitude and his distinct sense of style in dancing in the middle of the sidewalk, if you could call his shaking an actual dance. Some of them even shook their heads, but he paid them no heed. He continued forward with through the bustling avenue, his steps joyful, and unhurried, suddenly ground to a halt when a little girl who was no more than probably eight fell in front of him.
That was then the bustling the market stood quietly, pressed their eyes to their gaps and slits to see what was going on. "Oh, another victim," someone muttered.
Behind her, he saw the little girl's sister, no older than probably in her late teens who stopped chasing her upon realizing who's in front of her.
"Becky," the sister said eerily, then little girl slowly stood up, dusting herself. "I'm ok, Ate," happily she said but didn't get the response she was expecting as silence descended upon all of them.
She turned around and saw him, without fear, or contempt as an ignorant child should have. The ones who would be unable to recognize the situation at hand, but, she recognized him instead, startling her older sister, "Ah I know you, you're the g-" but before she could finish her older sister shut her up by covering her mouth with her hand.
Then out of nowhere, several gasps were heard one after another, and this time, everyone's eyes fell on the thing the young man carrying upon his back, as it started dripping what seemed like blood, "Oh my god, Is that someone's blood dripping on his back? Did he murdered someone again?" Someone yelled frantically that cause what seems to them was another startling revelation.
Behind Becky, her sister looked like she was shaking as she approached them. The sister embraced Becky from behind as her body shuddered. She desperately tried to protect and conceal his body in her arms.
Someone then asked loudly, "Someone, call the police," another person from the crowd responded with, "Sorry, even if you tell the police they will ignore you and won't touch him, he's that scary,"
Then rumors, after rumors where thrown widely all around him giving the frightened girl even more fear.
"Curious, little thing aren't you," He gave an endearing little grin on his face, he then raised his hand reaching forward. And that was when the frightened older sister screamed on top of her lung and madly dashed away carrying the child.
He did not know how to react this time around as this had been the second time something similar happened. He just stood in silence as he watched the sisters fled away.
Everyone's eyes were filled with disdain and nauseating contempt, as the residents murmured uncontrollably.
"Freaking Hell, I just wanted to give her toy back," He thought, but due to her older sister fear, another terrible rumor was born.
Besides, everyone here would gossip about him further, over and over again in the future. Therefore, he ought to stop caring for a short while. "Nothing great is worth stressing over something trivial," He thought.
The young man paused for a moment in the middle of the sidewalk, then took out his mp3 player and then wore his earpieces and started listening to classic rock. He strode haughtily against the busy flow of the crowd like he owned the place, separating a path for him, after all now that it came to this point why not stride like a boss, in this part of the city, no one would dare to cause trouble for they called him an insidious gangster.
Walking less than a quarter a mile, he arrived at the station where the bus arrived on the timely matter, he finally rode and left the scene and has faded out of sight, the people streamed out in another commotion for a short while and resumed what they naturally ought to do.
Finally, several miles away, he stumbled upon an acquainted boutique into view and entered.
He heard someone greeted him gleefully as he walked towards the old lady who at the desk counter, who smiled when she saw him, then he smiled back cheerfully. There were several different plants and flowers on the ground, arranged beautifully and attractively.
"Lola, I brought the goods, where do you want it?" The young man asked, then the old lady pointed at the nearby large ice container placed adjacent near the fridge on the corner, "Put it there, for now, my grandson will come by soon and fix the fridge," she said.
Hastily, he placed the bag within the icebox then asked, "Mission accomplished. I've done what you've asked, now it's time to return the favor and give me what you promised," He excitedly said with heartfelt anticipation.
"All, right a deal's a deal, you kept your word young man as you should, I hope all your effort is worth the trouble, top left corner on that stall, near the roses," She then pointed at the exquisitely wrapped box situated on the stall. He then quickly and delightfully grabbed and peaked within it.
His skipped a beat when all his expectation was fulfilled, satisfied he closed the lid, and made a mad dash to the nearby exit. But, his departure came to a sudden pause, when the old lady said.
"Wait, as a bonus get one of the bouquets, as thanks for helping a delicate old lady like me," then, he glanced at every corner, searching for the perfect one around every corner, "That one," he pointed at the bouquet filled with lilac and carnations.
"Take it, it's free of charge," Lola said, both smiled amiably towards one another.
He stepped outside the shop, after saying his thanks, he took a slight pause on the sidewalk before reaching his destination, he then took several glances from either side of the street, taking into account incoming vehicles, then crossed it.
A few minutes later, he arrived at his girlfriend's place, he looked at her house, with extreme delight in his heart, "Baby, I'm back," He shouted, from the bottom of his heart and slowly approached the door.
The man was very excited about the topic he'd like to discuss with her when abruptly his thoughts were suspended when he noticed came to notice the signs of a struggle outside the house, and why there was a newly broken vase outside, and her door slightly opened.
However, the young man was determined to wave it at the merest sign that something was wrong. He prayed that nothing had happened to her and did not wish her harmed over any small matter.
That said, he did not think anything terrible had befallen unto her, it's just one can never be overly too naive about wishful thinking, based on his experience.
As he examined his surroundings with care, the man continued his slow approach. "Baby, are you alright," he whispered, "I'm here," he declared. Estimating the appropriate response to any necessary actions, when suddenly he heard a loud crashing thud at the kitchen and his girlfriend groaned in unpleasant pain.
The young man immediately fell into a sense of panic, as he has forsaken all precautions to provide aid, was then stopped on track when he heard another thud that followed by several dangerous objects flying across the hall, and dreadfully heading towards him.
End Of Chapter -1-
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Authors Note: Did you guys enjoy?
This Novel contains Actions, Mystery, Romance, and mixed with an odd comedy set in Urban Fantasy.