Clockwork [final]

One

Tucked away in buildings where they were safe and warm, people cowered from the rain pouring down on the abandoned streets. Nobody wanted to be outside on a day like this. It was an utterly miserable day that dampened even the cheeriest spirits; the kind of cold dreariness that seeped through your skin and into your bones. On a day like this there were only two people on that street who appeared in no hurry to get anywhere.

One of those people was a young man that was crouched beside a dumpster, his coarse blonde hair hanging in front of bloodshot eyes. He reeked of a foul mixture of sweat, weed and desperation. He was the kind of person that others wrinkled their nose at as they passed him, either pretending they hadn’t seen him or shooting him a look of disgust. He noticed a policeman speed past the alleyway and shrank back into the shadows.

The other that braved the streets was a fairly average young woman, her head bent so that her hair created a red veil over her face. Her thin, pale arms were coiled protectively over a little silver object. She was completely drenched, but still maintained a steady pace, not bothered by the rain like everyone else seemed to be. At that moment, nothing about her appeared unusual other than the fact she was dressed in an oil-stained lab coat.

The man breathed a sigh of relief as the policeman disappeared. After quickly glancing around, he resurfaced from the shadows, getting ready to move. He couldn’t stay in one area for long. As he did so, the woman dressed in the lab coat walked past. Somewhere, something gave a muffled beeping sound and she unexpectedly stopped, turning her head.

“Why, hello,” she greeted, peering at him through her dripping hair with a sweet smile. He started slightly, immediately on alert, but relaxed when he saw she was clearly no threat.

“Didn’t nobody ever tell you not to talk to strangers, girl?” he grumbled, irritated that she had made him jump and secretly paranoid that his reaction had made him seem pathetic.

“Yeah, but they also told me to help those who look as if they are in need.” Pausing, she swept him with her eyes and added, “And you certainly look as if you are in need; although, you smell like you’re in need even more,” she giggled, wrinkling her nose in distaste. He thought he caught a glint of some unreadable emotion passing through her eyes when she looked at him, but it was so quick that he couldn’t work out what it was.

He gave her an irritated look. “Hey, look here, I don’t need you turning up and trying to show me acts of kindness or something, alright?”

“Seriously? I’m doing everyone out here an act of kindness as well as you. You smell so bad you probably made a hole in the ozone layer. At least allow me to let you use my shower.”

He gave her a dark look, but, after a pause growled, “Will you shut up if I go with you?”

“Sure. Could I get your name, though?”

“What, you going to turn me in?” He sounded mostly amused at the prospect.

“No, it’s just a common courtesy,” she replied flatly, pushing her glasses up her nose. For a brief moment, he wondered how she could possibly see through them; they were thoroughly spattered with rain.

“Fine. Name’s Derek. What about yours, ginger?”

“I’m Adette. Now come on, it’s cold.”

She was right, it was, and she certainly looked pretty cold. Her arms were covered in goosebumps. He wasn’t exactly warm out here, either, but he was more adjusted to it.

With that realization he heaved himself to his feet, although he still eyed her reproachfully. It was then that he noticed the object she was cradling in her arms.