Washington, D.C. 2300 hrs (11:00 p.m.)
Not many people walk the streets at this hour. Most people are home, or driving home, or someplace where there do not intend to get home before morning. They are mostly deserted, save for a few souls who trundle home after a much too long day, and those lost with nowhere to go. Not many brave the darkness alone.
But one girl does.
Hood up, head down, she walks purposefully but also aimlessly, as if she needs to get somewhere but doesn’t know where it is. A sudden gust of wind blusters through, scattering forgotten newspapers. The girl shivers and pulls the straps of her back pack tighter around herself. Sometimes she feels that the trash that trembles in the wind is her only company. Something makes her freeze in her tracks. Footsteps. Another soul faces the gloom tonight. A chance at company?
No. Not for this girl. She quickens her pace, but the footsteps continue. Thinking fast, she does a quick scan of the area and begins to jog. The footsteps keep coming. She suddenly turns down an alley. The footsteps follow her in, and then slowly come to a stop as the person loses sight of their target.
. . .
Alice breathed out a sigh. What was she thinking? If this girl was anything like Nicole, then when her mind was made up, she didn’t waver. She just wished….Alice shaked her head and turned to walk back home. A small clank made her turn back around.
“Nikki?” she whispered. Then louder, “Nikki, I know you’re there.”
“Why did you have to follow me?” a voice said. Alice started, and turned around.
“Oh! You scared me,” Alice exclaimed.
“YOU scared ME. If I hadn’t realized it was you…” she trailed off. Nikki sighed. “What do you want Alice? Why did you follow me?”
“I followed you because you just left! Now that we know you’re alive, you think we’ll just let you walk away?”
“A girl can dream,” she said, laughing slightly.
“Nikki, you can’t go,” Alice pleaded.
“You don’t get it, Alice. I have to. You guys aren’t safe around me,” she sighed, then added softly, “No one is.”
“Nikki…” Alice said, reaching out for her. Nikki pulled away.
“I have to go.” She turned and walked away into the dark of the alley.
“What? No!” Alice yelled, running after her.
“Alice, there are some things I have to do on my own. I’m sorry. Please tell the others I say goodbye.”
“Nikki, you cannot go!” Alice shouted after her. Nikki halted and turned slightly.
“Sorry Alice. There is something I have to do. See you around, I guess.” Out of her backpack popped two metal wings and she shot off into the sky.
“Wait!” Alice ran forward, but nothing but a wisp of smoke remained.
