Trust Among Strangers

Kagome's Rant: Get inspired, and review please, but don't steal ideas.

The shoes of the coat clad man were dampened as he sloshed through a shallow puddle. The alley was dark, chilly and hollow. His footsteps echoed up the walls of the abandoned apartment buildings. His eyes were open wide, the gray of his eyes thinning as his pupils became gaping holes, drinking in the darkness. After splashing through another long stretch of alley, he approached another man who carefully, who slid his hand into his jacket. Minutes passed. Long minutes of hushed whispers slithered between brick crevices, murmuring secrets to anyone who would listen.

My shoes weren’t expensive, the muddy water seeped through them easily, chilling my toes. The alley was so dark, I could barely see where I was going. My only guide down the pavement was the occasional flash of light reflected off of the face of the moon. The alley continued for quite a while; my coat swished in a steady beat to my footsteps. By the time I met my “friend,” I was ready to bet that I’d have to get some of my toes amputated. Cold water isn’t good for minute appendages. He didn’t trust me. You could see it in his eyes. He slid his hand into his jacket, and I bet he had a weapon in there. I didn’t trust this alley, you couldn’t see anyone, but you never knew who might be listening.

He was late. I had been warned about people like him. Anyone who wasn’t punctual was untrustworthy in some way. If you can’t keep time, you can’t keep a promise. When I finally heard his footsteps, they were hurried. At least he was trying to get here on time. This alley was helpful like that, everything traveled. He stepped up to me and began some meaningless whisper. I wasn’t listening. I had heard it all before. I put my hand in my jacket. There wasn’t anything in there, but I knew he’d understand the meaning behind my threat. I just wanted to get this meeting over with. I couldn’t seem to trust that man’s cold gray eyes.