Zero Identity

Chapter 2: Innocents and Alleyways

Chapter 2: Innocents and Alleyways

*6 months before*

"Ms. Wiseman, library's about to close." I looked up from my paper to find the librarian standing next to my desk, a patient smile on her face. I turned back to add the finishing touches to my paper.

"That's quite a lot." She said giving a quiet chuckle.

"Mmm-hmmm, and I'm just about done." My voice trailed off as I finished typing out the last word.

"O.K. then. Here are the books you requested on self-defense." She said placing three pamphlet-like books on the table.

"Thank you so much and sorry for all the trouble. It's usually Mrs. Morris who does this and you being new and having to work so late just for me." I rambled.

"It's no problem, Mrs. Morris did inform me about your late night endeavors." The librarian gave a warm smile, her penetrating blue eyes twinkled

"Just make sure you go through the back alley door, it's towards the back near the children's section.  I've locked the front door already."

"Oh yea, sorry, and thanks again." I said, stuffing my laptop, various papers and the books into my bag. With another mumble of thanks, I grabbed my jacket off of the straight-backed chair and headed towards the stairs and to the back of the old building. The library was dark and quiet, something that had passed by me unnoticed. I made my way through the maze of the children's section and eventually found myself in a room at the very back of the building. It seemed to be filled with a bunch of dusty boxes which held countless amounts of books, but in the midst of all the boxes was a door that was barely visible. I thought twice about maybe walking back and finding the librarian to ask for directions but thought better of it when a glance at my watch told me it was already nine-thirty. The librarian had been patient enough with me.

So instead, I cleared some of the boxes to reveal a rusty looking door with a small doorknob.  There was a faded exit sign above the door frame whose light had long since fused. It was a formidable looking door but it was an exit still. The brass doorknob was cold and wouldn't turn easily. When I did get the doorknob to twist, I found that the door wouldn't budge. I had to apply all my weight on the door when it finally swung open. I looked around slowly and finally understood why the door was never used. The door lead to a dank, unpleasant alleyway, too narrow for any truck but wide enough to fit moderate sized vehicles. On either side, large, overflowing dumpsters lined some of the wall space. Steam rose from a sewage drain somewhere down the path. The setting was enough to give any horror movie a run for its money, which is why I figured it was perfectly safe.

 It was as pleasantly cool of an August evening as it could get in the city of Chicago and so I shrugged to myself, pulled my jacket on and stepped onto the gravel.The alley was long and the end seemed an eternity away. I reminded myself again that I needed a car. Walking, although environment and money friendly in a city was just not enough. Empty thoughts filled my mind and I eventually began to hum a random tune dully taking note of the idle sedan parked somewhere ahead. 

It was the sudden flicker of movement that made me stop and peer into the distance. But before I could further investigate, a low rumble of yet another vehicle approaching from behind broke me out of my dazed state. I turned in confusion and my brain registered the situation as I squinted at the growing headlights. At this time of night,  an alley was never a good place to be.  As if on instinct, my brain searched for a place to hide, quickly, before whomever in the car saw me. I spotted two dumpsters ahead, overflowing with rotting garbage and cardboard boxes and figured they would have to do. I crept slowly alongside the wall to the well hidden but malodorous hideout as the engine of the SUV slowed and gave to quiet idling.