Ellen knew that someone was following her. She could hear the not-so concealed footsteps, and could smell the stench of drunken idiots. She knew the rules for going out at night. The strict codes she hated so much. Stay on the bright streets, don’t go anywhere you mustn’t, always keep contact available.
Unfortunately tonight was one of the times when she had decided not to follow the rules. Blame it on that rebellious young adult side of her. Besides, It wasn’t all her fault. The streets were crowded and the hot, sweaty people had pushed her into a not-so bright lighted street. Ellen absolutely hated crowds, she hid from them as bats would hide from the light. This street –by chance – happened to be a rubbish dump in comparison. It was dull of rusty, sunken bars and skeletal houses with bordered up windows. Ellen didn’t even bother to look for her phone in the jeans pocket. The non-existent weight of her mobile was a red, flashing light in her head screeching “you’re gone, you’re finished.” Over and over again.
She turned a corner and hoped for a bright, crowded street but unluckily landed in a dead-end alleyway. . That’s all the rules completely shredded and out the window. She silently cursed herself; letting this happen to her was an incredibly stupid thing. And man, was she going to pay for it
Like any other person in a deadly situation Ellen began to think of the things there’d be to miss when the men caught up with her. Things like that cute guy, Arthur, who she’s been eyeing at from her school. She had liked him, and vice versa. Too bad she would never see him again.
“Hey.” the slurred words echoed around the alleyway. His voice a brass bell ringing with threat. She turned and froze, seeing two big men starring hungrily at her. Ellen kept her face blank and refused to show any emotion, hiding her hands behind her back so they wouldn’t see how tensed her fists were.
“Go away,” Ellen whispered, knowing how insane it was to be talking to the men “I don’t want to hurt you.”
She felt it seemed like an empty and weak threat. Like a rubber balloon threatening to kick-box you . Ellen was much better at action. It was a fault, she must admit. The men laughed ferociously and staggered forward. . The dagger caught the night sky and glinted in the half-moonlight. Ellen’s breathe caught in her throat. It was a terrifying weapon, albeit less than 30cms long. But it was sharp, and would do quick work of skin. Ellen stepped back into the darker shadows and wished herself invisible
“Come here” their voices crooned at her, pretending as if they were sirens calling to their prey. But another voice was calling to Ellen, which blocked out their brute forms. She tried to ignore both and think of a away out. But there was none. “We won’t hurt you.” They droned. She had strong doubts that they were telling the truth.
They were close enough now that she could see them licking their teeth, and suppressed a cold shiver that ran down her spine. These men were hungry, rabid dogs. Finally, when the men were less than 2 feet from her, Ellen relented to what she knew was going to happen. Reaching for the strength she held it tight and closed her eyes and waited.
The dagger whistled through the air, burning hot, silver lines through the taunt alleyway. The blade sung beautifully in its stride for flesh, almost like a sirens call, humming for its victim. Screams filled the alley. Blood spilt the ground in thick masses, pooling on the concrete earth.
Ellen kept her eyes closed tight and sunk deeper into the shadows, in case anyone heard the screams and investigated. They screamed louder, but no-one came. No-one ever came in this part of town.
Ellen waited patiently for the men to be finished off from the bleeding. They weren’t going to get back up, Ellen knew that for sure. The one hit wonder. She didn’t even bother to tie up the job herself. She opened her eyes and winced at the two tangled bodies in front of her. She really did hate leaving carnage in her path. Really, all she wanted was peace and quiet. Ellen sighed and stepped over the two men, carefully avoiding the deep congealing body fluid. Why is it that every time she settled down someone had to go and get themselves killed?
‘The Strength’ was still grasped in her pale-skinned fist. She wiped the blood from her dagger on a stray piece of littered paper. Its silvered hilt smugly smiled at her, as she slid T’he Strength’ back into its sheath that rested gently, yet securely tied, below her neck. No-one wants a stray, visible weapon do they?
Ellen walked nonchalantly out of the alleyway, her heavy shoulders weighed down with exhaustion. She was tired of running. Even more, she would miss her date with Arthur Bent. At least in the next town she could meet another boy to make-out with. Ellen compromised with herself often, if only to kill time, an unintended pun. She murmured quietly to herself under her breath, there was no-one to hear it in the first place, but it seemed traditional. “Oh well.” She whispered. “Maybe next time.”
