At The Core Of It All

A Normal Walk Home

Corey stepped over a crack in the sidewalk almost tripping, the noise of music was loud in their ears blocking out most noises except for the screeching of cars. His bag slipped a bit off her shoulder and she shrugged it back on.

They hummed as they walked smiling at others they passed, she looked up for a minute staring at the night sky. The day was better, in her opinion anyway but something about the darkness of night was so beautiful.

They wore a brightly coloured patchwork sweater, a shirt underneath it just barely visible, and some faded jeans. Her planet earings  swung with every step she took. She was getting stares for the outfit, as usual, people in London weren't a fan of bright colours.

She tripped over the uneven sidewalk and landed on the ground hands stinging slightly. Their headphones had been knocked out and the cord dangled from her pocket, picking them up she was about to put them back in her ears when she heard a noise it seemed a bit distant but there was no mistaking the sounds of screaming and crashing.

Eyes widened she raced to where the sound was coming from, her footsteps pounded against the ground.

She turned a corner and saw it, the thing looked like something out of an action fantasy movie. Her eyes darted around the scene, there looked to be three people front and center his eyes fell on an older lady to the side, she seemed to be frozen in fear as she stared at the beast.

Without thinking Corey raced towards the woman, the beast's attention flickered to her and saw where she was going. Maybe it had an interest in them maybe it was confused but it was running at the women at a much faster pace than Corey was.

Corey pushed herself to run faster, she had an easier route than the thing. She reached the woman who was still frozen and threw herself in front of her.

"Run," Corey spoke quietly to the lady, but there was little chance either of them would make it out, the thing was close and neither of them could outrun it.

"I'm sorry hon'" The woman's voice was apologetic as if it was all her fault.

"It's all right," Corey murmured closing her eyes, still in front of the woman.

The beast advanced but then stopped. She opened one eye, the beast was looking right at them yet didn't seem to see them.

She tried to look behind her at the woman but saw nothing, she could feel the woman she was clutching her hand and the lady's breath was in her ears, yet she wasn't there as if she was invisible.

They turned their attention back to the beast in front then something seemed to swoop by and push the beast into a nearby store.

Suddenly she could see the woman again who was shaking like a leaf, though she probably was too.

"Here let me help you," Corey's voice cut through the tense feeling and she began helping the woman down the road away from the commotion.

When they reached the end of the street she gestured down a road.

"Go down there, find somewhere safe to go. Just don't come back here." She warned the lady.

"What about you?" The lady was trembling as she stared at Corey.

"I need to go back, make sure no one else is hurt or in danger," She told her with a smile and the lady nodded too shaken up to put up much of a fight.

"You just focus on finding somewhere safe," Corey told her as the woman began wandering down the street.

"You too," The woman said and Corey smiled, she waited until the lady had disappeared behind a corner then ran back to where the danger was.