It’s getting darker. It may even rain soon. Good.
I walk to the edge of my rooftop and peer out over the city.
The grey, shaded streets and the putrid stench of piss fit well with the sound of distant sirens, broken glass and an ill-tempered dog, barking incessantly.
I’m not one for using terms associated with dogmatic ideas but if you were to ask me what my image of "Hell" was, this place would be in my mind. The irony of course is that it’s the only place that’s ever felt like home.
As I walk the filthy streets, I'm greeted by the wary eyes of the neighbourhood. The same familiar faces. An old tramp, surrounded by his fort of boxes and planks of broken wood, who stops his ramblings for a moment to acknowledge me, before continuing in a more aggressive tone than before, as though trying to make up for the lost time.
Four thuggish individuals stand around their barrel fire, arguing. I can never make out what they’re saying, but they stop for a moment as I drift past, locked in an icy scowl with one of them as the smile slowly fades from his face.
Even the chained mutt stops barking, as he greets me with a submissive glance before continuing to snarl and snap as I am out of view.
"Shit!" I hear a woman shout under her breath, stumbling into my vision from across the street, checking the underneath of her foot.
Perfect timing...
As she mindlessly rushes into the darkened alley, I take a look around.
Apart from the distant sound of barking, it’s quiet.
Smirking to myself at the platitude of the situation, I casually stroll across the street, following her into the alley.
"Oh for fuck sake!" she shouts, as she drops her keys on the floor. I am right behind her now as she kneels down to pick them up. I wait for her to rise before placing my hand on her shoulder. She spins around gasping, clutching her keys between her fingers, but as she sees my face, she breathes a sigh of relief.
"Scorn... it’s you. Don’t scare me like that"
"Forgive me Valory".
I'd say Valory is my friend, if not my only. Our paths crossed about 3 years ago when she first came to this city. She got into a situation with some of the locals. I was able to "calm" the situation.
Now she lives here and is determined not to leave until she achieves her goal of finding out what happened to her father.
"You should be more careful, Valory. I told you not to walk this way at night."
"And YOU worry too much Scorny. I can take care of myself, don’t worry".
She looks at me, her eyes squinting slightly in an attempt to be cute and reassuring.
I scowl at her and grunt. “Don’t call me Scorny.”
She turns sharply, flicking her hair and proceeds to strut down the alley.
"Oh save the dark knight attitude for someone else, it’s boring. C'mon take me home, I need to talk to you about something anyway".
