I lean and then narrow my eyes to the rooftop, where I can see movement. I think. I can only count on the poor, artificial lighting that reaches here. There is no moonlight, so I can barely discern the surroundings.
After a while, I decided it was my imagination. Then, relaxing my position, I lean against the wall and rest my arms.
It's a shitty night. There aren't even stars in the dim sky because it is cloudy. Also is freezing out here. When an icy breeze hit me, I hesitate between staring at the illuminated horizon of La Capital or going toward the warmth that promises my apartment.
It's nine o'clock, and I'm bored. If I were more of a reading type like Nao, I could kill time by reading. But I haven't been able to start many books in my twenty-one years of life. I prefer movies. Yes, ¿what can I do? I'm not the intellectual type.
Nao is always saying that I have to give it a chance. Anyway, I don't have time to read. However, right now I have nothing to do, and right on the night table, there are three books he recommended. Okay, I admit it: I don't read because I don't feel like it and that's it. Let them judge me if they dare.
Though it's not a race night, I wanted to go out for a spin. However, thanks to a mild cold, my brother Kale strictly forbade me to go out.
That's why I'm stuck at home. It's not that I'm always obedient. The truth is I hardly ever do what he tells me. But things got pretty ugly when I tried to disobey him this time.
To speak the truth: I was feeling a little tired. So I ended up following my brother's advice.
Slowly yawning, I think about my brother and the guys. Right now, Kale must be at the Solaris with the whole gang, having a great time. Well, sometimes my life becomes more miserable than usual. At least my fever is down.
In the end, I decide to go to the apartment thinking that it won't be nice if Kale finds out that I went upstairs. And for the record: I have many neighbors who would be very happy to go with the gossip. I lazily straighten up and just as I'm about to turn around, I catch the slight movement again. It is not the flickering of a light, although it could have been a reflection produced from an apartment in the neighboring building that is four floors higher than ours. Curiosity as always gains the best of me, and I approach in that direction so that I am as close as possible to the Tower A roof. Since I became independent together with my brother, we have lived on the fifth floor of Tower B of Building 31 in Barrio Alto. The building is made up of two blocks known as Tower A and Tower B. And don't let anyone be fooled by the name of the neighborhood. If it was named: Alto, it is because it is on an elevation and nothing more. Important note: our town is known as El Burgo and it is the most dangerous area of the city. Seriously, the worst of the worst. However, I don't have much to worry about, because the most feared and respected person in the entire Burgo is Kale, my older brother.
Now, I sharpen my gaze and lean almost my entire torso away from the balcony. I'm not snooping, I'm just worried it's a thief. Although it may well be something else. Like a secret game between lovers or the escape of some teenager. Okay, yes, I may be a bit of a gossipy.
So, I put all my senses on Tower A, and again I catch movement. It seems very strange. No matter how hard I try, I cannot define the silhouette. Then, an apartment in the next building lights up. With a jolt, I discover that it is a shadow.
I´m sure enough. Someone turned on a light and now I clearly see that what I was following was a vague, dark shape. It gently contorts while appearing to take springy, graceful steps.
I immediately look around. It can only be some prankster making shadow figures with his hands. I immediately think that the time has come to make an exit. However, I can only remain fascinated looking at the figure that now moves with a certain tedium. Whoever it is, they must be very skilled. It almost doesn't seem...
My mind goes blank when the shadow starts to enlarge. ¡Oh! It is taking shape. But ¿of what? This can be fun, so I lean against the wall that has been preventing me from landing headfirst on solid ground while inmerse in this show.
I continue to watch with what must be an expectant smile on my face. This person has a lot of skills. For a moment it seems that the projection is going to take a human shape but then four legs are drawn and, suddenly, a graceful feline body is forming in front of my eyes. It's about thirty meters away and I'm fascinated by it. Well, my childhood was bitter and I was deprived of many of its joys. Without realizing it my left hand goes to the scar that runs under my jawbone. It is quite long, about three inches, and was the result of the last hit my adoptive father gave me. The skin is lumpy and unpleasant there, I remember needing about four stitches.
But the shadow contorts, catching my attention as it continues to change. Becoming more and more consistent... To be more exact, more corporeal. Until suddenly there is a huge panther on top of tower A!
¿What the hell?! The question almost exploded on my lips, but somehow I managed to keep it in my thoughts.
The only thing I can do is open my eyes wide and then blink several times. I also have to resist the urge to massage my eyelids because, well, I know it's only going to make my vision worse.
In the end, the feline remains in the same place; without moving, as if he knew that someone was watching him. God! And he is no ordinary cat! It is immense, more than a meter high and two meters long. His body is dark and despite being completely paralyzed his long tail continues to move rhythmically which is almost hypnotizing.
I force myself out of my enthrallment and react. Then it occurs to me that I'm dreaming. It's the most logical thing here, ¿right? But if so, then Morpheus and Hypnos himself visited me because I can't remember when I went to bed. You're not supposed to remember that in a dream, though, ¿are you?
I look at myself. I'm wearing my ugliest pajamas: the one with little flowers that I bought only because it was very cheap. Yes, I hate flowers and hearts and cute things generally because I'm a tough girl, very tough.
Then, when I move my gaze to the other roof, I notice that the feline is looking at me. ¡Holy shit! It definitely does. It's closer now and doesn't look like a curious animal. No, those are intelligent eyes that look at me with understanding. Its gaze is intimidating and reveals threat and danger. The panther runs his tongue over his whiskers and I shudder. ¿Where did the tough girl go now?
Shit... I don't know if I said it or if I thought it. I make up my mind right away and give myself a strong pinch on the arm, just below my dream catcher tattoo. Ouch!! Well, that hurt a lot.
Thanks to the paleness of my skin, there will be a very visible mark there tomorrow. As soon as I finish grimacing in pain, I raise my face in search of the feline, afraid of losing his whereabouts for a long time.
"Shit...!" - I inhale the air with the word. The moment I looked at the strange cat, the animal smiles at me petulantly and something else that I can assure is pure evil. No, I'm not crazy. It smiled at me. And it continues doing it while tilting her dark head a little. Teeth are very white in contrast to his fur. Wow...those are some pretty big fangs...
I don't need anything else to take three steps back in search of the ladder that will help me get down from the roof. I do not want to remain one more second in sight of the phenomenon. Although it is true that it attracts me, at the same time it turns my stomach. Anyway, it can't jump up here right?
In any case, I'm not going to take the risk, and when I see the thing advancing elegantly, subtly shortening the distance that separates us, I turn my back and run like any good coward.