Am I Mad

Chapter Three

Chapter Three

            Ambrose crouched low on the roof of Jones and Burkes. Night had fallen early; the darkness like a shroud, lain carefully across his shoulders, cloaking him from the curious gazes tossed upward from the casual passerby. Ambrose found however as he tossed a cautious look over his shoulder that his careful precautions seemed to be in vain. The gloom of the empty streets resonated nothing but choking silence, the kind that makes you petrified to move, as though shattering the stillness would in turn shatter the rest of your world as some twisted form of retribution. Ambrose sat there waiting; he listened to the stillness until he thought that it would surely swallow him whole and leave not a trace behind it, and waited. Time seemed to pass as slowly as a life age of the earth as he crouched against the roof tiles legs cramping in the dark. Ambrose could feel his eyes growing heavy, the lids beginning to sink. Sleep danced at the corners of his consciousness, tempting him until Ambrose could feel himself slipping. He was almost gone when he felt something brush against his leg. Clamping his teeth down onto his lips he felt his heart leap into his throat as worst case scenarios flashed through his mind. Looking around quickly he found no one around him when he felt something brush against his leg again, looking to his feet he felt an embarrassed blush cross over his cheeks. A mangy looking street cat was rubbing its face against the toe of Ambrose’s boot, its purrs loud enough for Ambrose to hear.

            “You scrawny flea bag, you almost made me jump off this roof.” He said gently, a begrudging smile pulling at the corners of his serious face. Reaching down he stroked the cats matted fur, rubbing its velvet ears between his thumb and forefinger. It mewed almost as if it were replying and continued on with its purring as Ambrose began once more to settle down.

            “And now we wait.” He whispered staring into the darkness, absorbed in his thoughts once more and like any other time when he was left to his own devices and his mind had nothing left to do but wander he began to travel down memory lane, his past lining the road like decrypted homes that had long since been abandoned by owners who could no longer maintain them. Just when Ambrose thought he couldn’t wait any longer the light of a candle lit lantern broke into the night, scattering the darkness like a flock of pigeons startled by the sudden bark of a dog loose from its leash. Alert Ambrose rose from the ground slightly, craning his neck to look over the edge of the roof he watched as the store owner filed out of the shops door.

            “I’ll see you tomorrow Mr. Burke.” A jovial voice echoed through the close-set streets as the two men had stepped on to the boulevard, the door closed behind them extinguishing the lights and allowing the darkness to swarm around them once more.

            “Yes bright and early Mr. Jones, good night.” A deeper tone answered him and just like that the two business men parted ways with the tip of a hat and a polite wave; leaving Ambrose truly alone in the chilly night air. He felt the thrill of adrenaline rush through his veins, making his limbs tingle with anticipation; he stretched his shoulder loose shaking off the tightness the cold night air had left him. The cat arched its back and mewed once before scampering away, it too disappearing into the darkness.

            “Show time.” Ambrose whispered he tugged the grey scar over his nose and pulled the brim of his of his newly acquired top hat lower so all of Ambrose’s face that could be seen was the slight glint of his as he peered into the night.