Spellbound

.:2:.

The narrow walls, barely 3 feet apart, seemed to press in gradually around Alister's slender frame as he trudged on through the night, his feet occasionally colliding with stray pieces of litter left lying around the horribly confined space. He struggled to remain steady on the long stretches of steep, slender staircases scattered haphazardly about the lengthy passageway's expanse, the pockmarked stone floor masked in a fine sheet of ice, polished to a deathly finish by harsh winds laden with a sheer layer of snow. 

Snowflakes flying around in the air's current stung the young man's exposed ears and face, branding them an angry crimson hue as they continued to relentlessly beat him back and slow his pace. His very Essence shivered from within, the physical effects on his body due to the energy type growing with every minute exposed to the bitterly cold elements.  

Weary amethyst eyes teared up as the wind battered against them, both freezing and drying as he continued to persist spitefully. Though however irritating it seemed to be, he simply gnashed his teeth in frustrated determination, paused to finally button up his long, black overcoat, shoved his hands back into his deep, fur-lined pockets and started off again, bracing himself against the chilling October winds for God-knows-how-long until he would eventually reach the end of that damned passageway. 

Small pockets of static air formed by sections of taller, sturdier fencing blocked the wind from entering the condensed area for barely long enough to prevent against any severe kinds of an earache dotted the endless walkway and in one, just a few dozen meters ahead, stood a small gathering of gray-and-black-clad figures leaning against the wall and smoking something strong by both the look and smell of it.

Alister nervously fingered his small, worn leather wallet stashed deep in his pocket, tucking it back into a generally unnoticeable torn section underneath the cloth where it would be inaccessible to anyone who didn't know where to look for it. His head dipped subconsciously, long wisps of stray black hair falling in front of his face and tickling against his reddened nose as the now-softer breeze attempted to brush it back to its initial place. Refusing to make eye contact, even from this distance, Alister cast his eyes to the ground and pressed on with long, quick strides both as assertively and discretely as he could, offering a silent prayer on behalf of himself that nobody would be eager to cause any trouble with him tonight.

Before his presence could be known, however, the figures abruptly jumped from their spots, suddenly unnervingly alert and silent. Muffled whispers dared to echo across the plaster walls and looming stone fences. Nothing in the environment had changed for them to react so abruptly as they did unless they could sense something that he couldn't. Most likely a group of Monsters if their senses were that strong to pick up something so subtle. Though it left him wondering for a moment as to what could've piqued their instinct so easily, and if he should be worried as well.

Only a few moments later, a faint echo, from much farther in the distance than what would be necessary to begin worrying finally worked its way over to where the Machinist was standing. A soft clicking noise, closer to tapping than anything but much sharper. Like delicate, meticulously placed footsteps in short-heeled boots. Hard rubber-soled by the sharp yet muffled sound, and light-footed yet heavier than a predominantly feminine figure's step. A small, somewhat masculine person approaching the area. The sound grew in volume and definition as they continued their descent into the darkness, the noise carrying a sense of nervous aggression and feigned superiority; unnervingly similar to his own. Though in what he lacked the stranger's carried - a sense of belonging. The sound was slightly careless, a little bit too comfortable. Like they owned the place, but they were terrified to claim that ownership at the same time.

Though even this simple sound was enough to send even the largest of them running in fear, as the small gathering ahead of him had disappeared in a pungent cloud of shimmering purple smoke. Perhaps it would be smart to follow their lead and get the hell out of there as fast as he could, despite an inkling of a thought persisting at the back of his head, whispering to him that it wasn't that big of a threat as he assumed it to be. Nevertheless, he quickly collected himself and his thoughts and finally took off down the narrow alleyway, but not before taking a quick second to ensure to himself that his wallet had, indeed, not been stolen from him in one utterly impossible way or another.