The Burning Rain

Chapter Four

Rho had a stash of things tucked behind a dumpster. The alley branched off Tay Street, belonging to a run-down and mostly abandoned part of town. She made her way there and her mystery attacker followed closely. He'd asked for the address, and she told him straight-up. Maybe not the best tactic, but she didn't have a fake answer planned and he'd get suspicious anyway if she started leading him elsewhere. Not being able to see him--to gauge his mood or guess at what he was thinking--made her uneasy. Her watch read 0100. Military time had been one of the few habits she'd picked up from her father. He hadn't been in the military but he often worked different shifts for his job at the wastewater treatment plant. His watch and jacket were hers now, but she imagined the breezy scent of his citrus aftershave would never disappear. Her fingers found the damp drawstrings near the hood and began squeezing water from them as her mind traveled back. To days when the jacket would take her out for Chinese every Thursday. To days when it could give answers to her endless questions. To days when her dad wasn't buried six feet under.

"You're slowing down."

Not missing a beat, "Are you in a hurry?" He didn't reply but Rho picked up her speed anyway. Who knew how long all this would last? Besides, she was freezing--the sooner she got out of these clothes, the less chance of her getting sick. She had a test to take tomorrow. The pavement was slick and the slap of her boots was louder than she liked. They were normally quiet.. they were also normally not soaked with sewer water. And at least she'd already been mugged once tonight. The chances of it happening twice in one night were slim to none.

She wondered what she would tell him. Not the truth—he'd think she was crazy. But what other kinds of conditions would credibly defend the same acts which he'd caught her in? Maybe she could belong to a gang. Images of tattoos and brotherhoods lingered and she gradually nixed the idea. Too many details would need to be explained and she didn't have enough time to figure them out. She could try and lose him. Run, lose him completely, and then she wouldn't have to tell him anything. But he'd snuck up on her, so he'd proven himself in a way that made her believe he might be able to find her again. Did she want him tracking her down? Anyway, what if he was faster than her? He'd had the upper hand for the majority of their acquaintance. And now you have the upper hand. What could she do?

    Gears turned and a plan formed. She just needed to get to the dumpster. She'd distract him and then she'd run. No explanation for the mystery man. 0107. Almost there. Her heart slowed and she made her body her slave, beating it into habit, normalcy, calm. He couldn't be able to suspect anything. Hard, frozen strands of hair drummed against her back as she walked. The supplies stored away in her duffel ticked through her mind like an old film reel, and she smiled when the pieces clicked together. They turned the corner onto Tay street and there it stood in all its shadowed glory: the dumpster.

"That's it?"

"Yup." She stopped walking and stood near the lamplight, giving herself a few more seconds of mental prep.

"What do you need? I'll get it," he said as he passed her.

"No, it's alright." Her arm reached out to stop him but he smoothly dodged her reaching fingers. "You'll just mess things up," she said. The only way her plan would work is if she got to her things before he did. She hadn't considered that he might try to get to them first. He stopped walking and turned back to look at her, but she'd been right on his heels. His elbow collided with her stomach and she grunted and let herself fall. He didn't let the push affect his facial expression. She stared up into his aggravatingly empty eyes. "I have everything in a certain place and I'd like to keep it that way," she said sternly from the ground.

He watched her for a moment and she kept eye contact, trying to appear more controlling than challenging. "You're planning something. So, nope. I can't let you go first," he finally said and looked away. "Now what do you need?"
She rolled her eyes and got back to her feet. Keep up the act, she told herself. He'll underestimate you. "There's a change of clothes in the mesh end-pocket of the duffel. It's behind the dumpster on the right side."