A Dim Light in the Night Sky

1

In the vast expanse of the world, I have always been a lone wanderer. From the moment I embarked on this odyssey, solitude became my constant companion. My journey, which had no beginning or end, ensured my path stretched endlessly before me. Guided by the unwavering spirit of liberation, I traveled the land as a nomad, unrestricted by borders.

Being a lone traveler has always been my way. I believed it always would be. That all changed after I met her.

It was late evening, and the remaining daylight was slowly dissolving into the night as I wandered through an unfamiliar part of town. The city of Desperado was an uncharted labyrinth to me. Every corner and alleyway a mystery, each new street more foreign than the last. I never linger in one place long enough to become familiar, always moving, never returning.
The buildings loomed around me, their facades crumbling, bricks cracked and weathered, and windows either shattered or boarded up. Layers of graffiti adorned the walls, a chaotic tapestry of colors and messages that spoke of anger, desperation, and defiance.

The air was thick with a pungent odor, an unholy mixture that did a number on my senses. It was hard to tell if the stench came from the countless homeless people huddled under makeshift shelters or from a nearby sewer leak, but the combination was nauseating. Shadows moved in the periphery, figures blending into the urban decay. Their eyes glinting with a mix of fear and suspicion as they watched my every step.

Amidst the stench, I noticed a group of five men converging on a woman with long black hair cascading down her back. She wore a greenish-gray dress that seemed to blend with the grimy surroundings. Yet there was something about her that seemed to shine ever so dimly. The men, hulking figures with rough edges, were shabbily dressed in mismatched, threadbare clothing. Their demeanor radiated menace, eyes glinting with ill intentions as they closed in on her, their footsteps echoing ominously in the desolate street.

"You're coming with us senorita!" One of the burly men shouted as he pinned her to a brick wall. "We're gonna have a lot of fun tonight."

The woman remained silent as if in complete apathy as the other men started grabbing her.

One man grabbed her hair and started smelling it. "I see you've been washing it." He said before he started fondling her breasts.

"Stop it you bastard!" Another man among the group shouted with anger. "Not here. Wait until we bring her back. Save some for us!"

She glanced in my direction, and our eyes locked. In her gaze, I saw a profound emptiness and an overwhelming sadness. It was as if she longed to cry out for help, but something held her back, rendering her silent and paralyzed.

I knew better than to get involved. I offered her a fleeting, half hearted smile before turning away to continue my walk. I wasn't a white knight, and this journey wasn't about rescuing damsels in distress. Whatever fate awaited her was none of my concern. I had my own path to follow, and I intended to keep it that way.

"What about that runt over there?" One man from the group started glancing at me. "He looks like Charlie's type and you know how long it's been since he's had some."

"You're right!" Another man looked my way. "Charlie will pay us a lot! Or at least he'll stop coming onto us for a bit."

"Hey you! You're coming with us too!" One of them walked away from the woman and started approaching me.

This wasn't my business, until it became my business. If they were coming after me, I had no choice but to intervene. Annoyed, I turned around and fixed them with a vicious glare.

"Back off!" I shouted. "I'm not gonna be Charlie's bitch!"

Undeterred, he continued his advance. Immediately I checked my surroundings. No one else around attempted to approach me, so I was able to focus on him.