A drooping window was opened with a creak and a splintering of wood. Water was poured from the slop bucket onto the street below. It splashed up from the mud nearly hitting an old drunkard who had just stumbled out of the tavern opposite. He crashed into the front door of a house catching the last drops of water on his grey woollen hat. He then pushed himself back up and continued to zigzag down the lane, as his feet ran away from him. In a hoarse voice he was still singing the song the barmaid had taken up over an hour ago.
'Go into the Lab, if you dare
Twist and turn
You lose your way
And end up staying there.'
Admittedly it wasn't the most imaginative lyrics and his voice broke and rumbled throwing the words away into the mist, which had begun slithering around him.
'But darling, the Lab ain't so bad
There's plenty good people here
And don't you forget there's me, dear darling
Together we'll be found in the Lab'
The mist swallowed the song lazily and directed it down other streets in a wet whisper. It clung to the dilapidated doorways accompanying the women who dared not cover themselves against it least they should lose their trade. It took a joyride on the workers coat tails as they dispersed down numerous alleys and dirt tracks between sagging buildings and shacks.
'Because the Lab will lose us forever
To remain here together'
A thin eerie wail grew up out of the mist, the cry of a lamb muffled by the smog. The drunk peered through the layers of fog at the bundle of rags that bawled into the damp air. He lost his balance head batting the door it had been laid in front of.
"What the hell do you want?" snapped the occupant who had pulled the door open just as he had regained his balance.
She was quite a young woman but grown tired. Her pale green eyes were lined and her red hair was dull with grey.
"Yer bab- baby," mumbled the drunk, "crying it is. Bawling its eyes out."
She looked down were his shaky finger pointed.
"Oh my goodness!" she exclaimed and scooped the baby up at once, "All right be off with you now," she barked at him, "I don't need another drunk die on my doorstep."
He grunted and began to shuffle off, one hand on his head.
'Because the Lab, lost in it forever
You and me together'
YOU ARE READING
Doe (#Wattys2016)
FantasyThe Lab isn't for everyone. But for Doe and her sister it's home that is, until Lord Lurie finds out about them and creates a master plan that may propel them out of poverty and straight into the elite. Torn between two worlds they face the ultimat...
