Song of Gods

Chapter One

         He doesn't think that I notice him following me. How could I not? A tall dark figure looming behind me on my way home from work. I continue walking down the dark street letting him believe he is following unsuspecting prey. I walk this way every night so it's nothing new. I'm just unsure of why this man would choose tonight to follow me. Is it chance or was it premeditated? My mind races.

        Tonight has been an exceptionally rough night. At work it was as if I couldn't do a thing right, and this morning I got a notice that my electricity was going to be shut off. So this was just the icing on my cake. I pull my coat tighter around me, knowing my goosebumps aren't from the cold but I still try to fight off the chills. In my purse there is a small can of pepper spray, whether I can get to it without him noticing is another question. I'm only two blocks away from my house - well apartment actually. I live alone with my big baby of a dog. His name is Roofus. He's a pit bull, but he wouldn't hurt a soul. My apartment isn't on the best side of town but then again my job isn't either. The small restaurant where I work is always looming with shady people and I know how to handle myself in these kinds of situations because of it. Things happen and there isn't always time to call the cops.

         I pull my purse in front of my body so that he can't see me getting into it. I put my hand into it and start digging around for the spray. This is a bad time to realize that I carry to much crap in my purse. I never thought carrying a large purse would be a downfall. The man begins to pick up his pace and the distance between us becomes smaller. I still act as if nothing is happening so that I will have the element of surprise. Now I'm only a few hundred feet away from my building. There's no way he'll go into the building so I'll be safe as soon as I make it inside. I make the mistake of looking behind me. Why I look behind me is beyond me. It's like I never seen a scary movie. Everyone knows the girl trips, falls and dies.

        The man is very tall comparison to my short 5'2" height. I'd say he's almost 6'3", a good foot taller than me. He doesn't seem to be the lanky kind but with the black trench coat he's wearing it's hard to tell. From the quick glance his facial features are being covered with dark sunglasses, which is shady by itself. Who would wear them this time of night? He also has dark brown or black, I can't tell in the lighting, but fairly short hair.

         The man sees me looking at him and smiles. What kind of person smiles at someone they are following? A sick one or maybe he's not following you a voice mutters in my mind. He opens his mouth as if to say something but closes it. What would he say? The curiosity gets to me. I slow my steps as he jogs up to me. My hand tightens on the pepper spray, just in case as he stands beside. He thrusts his hand out at me but I am ready for this. I saw it coming. I pull out my pepper spray and spray his face. I hear something hit the ground, I ignore it as my attacker pulls back and turns away from me. Now what do I do? I've never gotten this far before. Run? Fight? I glance to the ground and there lies my wallet. I gasp as it hits me. He wasn't stalking, he was returning my wallet. Now I just feel stupid. How am I ever going to make it up to this man? I just pepper sprayed him for returning my wallet. Dear lord, I'm going to hell.

         A lot of the time at work, I tend to leave my wallet sit at the cash register. I have a card to clock in at work and I normally keep it in my wallet and I tend to just never put it back into my purse. I normally remember part way through my walk that I forgot it and make my way back to the dinner to retrieve it. Today though, I completely forgot about it. I drop my spray and walk over to him placing my hand on his shoulder, he's doubled over. He has his black sunglasses in one hand and is rubbing his eyes with the other. "Oh my god, sir. I'm so sorry. I thought you were attacking me. Come on back to my house and I'll help you get that out of your eyes." The man just nods as I pick up my wallet and the spray. After I throw them into my purse, I put one arm around his waist and lead him to my apartment. I open the small gate that fences in my yard for us to maneuver into the house. The man lets me guide him to the front porch. He puts his hand on the banister as he helps himself up the stairs.