Dancing with Fate ~ Uzi x N (Murder Drones AU)

Chapter Eight: Bottle of Vodka

White specks painted the night sky as their reflected light reached the earth, illuminating the rain-soaked pavement. The smell of mildew was strong in the air. The distant sound of waves crashing against the shore mingled with the soft patter of raindrops, creating a soothing nocturnal symphony.

Despite the late hour, a few determined souls still wandered the dimly lit streets, their silhouettes barely visible through the misty veil that had settled over the port town. Most of them were late-night drinkers, mostly consisting of sailors returning from long voyages at sea.

Passing another pair of drunk wandering men with no real destination, I had a good idea of where they were all coming from.

Having previously picked up my package of goods from the old man who ran the 'Mermaids Treasure', I returned to my ship. After an, honestly, forced conversation with Kain at the ship, I made my way toward the Rusty Anchor tavern. The old shopkeeper's tip echoed in my mind as I navigated the winding streets, my footsteps splashing through shallow puddles.

While the gloomy downpour had stopped a while ago, the lingering moisture in the air clung to my skin, creating a clammy sensation. The night air succeeded in sending a chill down my spine. Passing by weathered buildings, the night only grew colder.

I never really did enjoy the rain. The way the dampness seemed to seep into your bones, involuntarily making you shiver. I didn't enjoy the dark either. Not that I was necessarily scared of it. It was more like an unease when engulfed in it. The way the shadows seemed to stretch and twist, playing tricks on your eyes.

Loneliness was another thing I did not enjoy...

Seems I found myself not enjoying a lot of things as of late.

With the reminder of all these discomforts brought on by the gloomy weather, I found myself strictly walking under the light of the lamp posts.

The boardwalk that ran along the sea was lined with flickering lamp posts that cast a warm, golden glow on the wet wooden planks. The soft light created shimmering reflections in the puddles, giving the scene an almost ethereal quality. As I approached the end of the boardwalk, I could make out the weathered sign of the Rusty Anchor tavern swinging gently in the breeze.

Sweet relief echoed in my mind as I quickened my pace. The faster I was, the faster I could warm up from this cold feeling of unease.

Nearly running at this point, my gaze flickered over to a lamppost in the distance. I gradually slowed my pace as I hesitantly continued walking towards it. The light for this particular lamp flickered erratically, before completely burning out.

It was no odd scene, seeing as these lamps were pretty poorly maintained - however, the sense of previous unease returned at full force.

I inhaled a quick huff of air as I turned a full 180 degrees in the opposite direction. Deciding I would check out the tavern tomorrow night without running the risk of ending up on a missing person poster. Yes, 6'5 me, highly trained in combat and self-defence, on a missing person poster. Seemed like the best plan of action in my opinion.

Leisurely beginning my trek back to my ship, I was stopped dead in my tracks as I heard of spark of electricity behind me.

The sudden noise made me jump, my heart racing as I spun around to face the source. To my surprise, the previously extinguished lamp flickered back to life, its light now steady and unwavering, shining down on a significantly shorter silhouette.

I let out a nervous chuckle, my eye twitching involuntarily. Trying to calm my nerves was futile. My heart pounded in my chest as I debated whether to approach or flee. Fight or flight seemed to cancel out as I stood there motionless.