Wrestling the Kraken

Bridgett

Bridgett

Bridgett and Lanz sat in silence for a while. She had told him everything... minus the killing. Feeling an openness with him she never knew before, there was still caution to be had.

The glow of the lantern illuminated the tent with an amber hue, deepening the shadows beyond its reach.

Lanz lifted a flap and checked outside. "It's getting late. I know it's not much, but you're welcome to sleep here."

"I should go." Bridgett blurted out. It came out harsh, without her meaning to.

Lanz put his hands up. "Just offering. It's getting pretty dark out. This city gets wild at night."

That's putting it mildly. "Thanks, I have a place not too far from here in Paramore Hills." She replied, trying to soften her voice.

The expression on Lanz's face revealed concern. "This late, that part of town?"

"It's fine, really." She insisted.

Coming to a decision, Lanz rifled for a blue can. He pulled out fifty dollars. Watching the confusion take over Bridgett, he handed her the money with a smile. "For one of those fancy hotels downtown."

"No, I couldn't!" She argued.

"I insist. At least you can spend the night someplace safe."

"But it's yours." She said, surveying the tent. "You need it."

Lanz laughed. He seemed highly amused at her confusion and it was starting to annoy her. "I have what I need." He said.

"It's very kind, but I won't take your money." She said, pushing his hand away.

"Look. I didn't leave to join the circus because I had nothing. Actually, it was the opposite. I was a bank manager. Made a pretty decent living too. Saved up plenty."

"What made you join?" She asked.

He took a deep breath, remembering. "I needed to see more. Do more. I mean, don't get me wrong. I enjoyed my job, being a bank manager, working with numbers. I'm good with numbers. It's just not all I wanted to do in life, so I took my hobby and turned it into a career."

"Then why-"

"Why am I living here like this?" Lanz finished, waving a hand around the tent.

Bridgett nodded.

Lanz smiled to himself, then it slowly faded away. "I didn't want to be around people. I didn't... want to lose anyone else. Live alone and you don't have to worry about that. This spot, no one comes here. Everyone's too busy with their city life to enjoy what's around them."

"I think no one comes here, because there's rumors of a crazy man that scares everyone away." Bridgett teased.

Lanz looked at her.

Did he not know about the rumors? She was new to the city and even she knew. Then again, he was fairly secluded.

"Eh, same thing." He replied with a wide grin. "Look, sleep here the night or take the money and sleep someplace safe."

Bridgett thought about it. The wind had long since died down and the moon was quickly rising. It turned out to be quite a day.

♦

The next morning, Bridgett woke up to the sound of birds and crashing waves. She looked over to see Lanz huddled in the far corner of the tent, still asleep. He had given her most of the blankets and kept a small, thin one for himself.

She grabbed one and laid it across him. Stepping out of the tent and stretching her arms, she was still wearing the clothes he had given her the day before.

Pinching the collar, she wondered, amused, at the openness of a stranger. She glanced over her shoulder at the tent, then back out at the morning waves. Not a stranger, she smiled. A friend.