"I'm sorry, the number you are calling is unable to take your call. Please leave a message after the tone."
Beep.
Shea sighed and leaned her head against the fogged up glass of the phone booth.
"Umm hi Anna it's me again...just uh...just give me a call when you get this, I really need to talk to you...um bye."
Reluctantly putting down the metal phone, Shea left the claustrophobic booth and entered the heavy downpour outside. By the time she had finished fuddelling around with the broken clasp on her umbrella she was already soaked from head to toe.
Great. Just my luck! Shea thought miserably as she limped along the sidewalk.
The Gray rain season was here again, not that it mattered much to Shea, New Mensah was a gray city anyway with not a single patch of greenery.
The High Chambers had decided that this city was safer if the ground was filled 6 foot deep with cement and the walls surrounding it were iron enforced.
"This city was entrusted to us by our Ancestors, to protect it, and to make sure all those populating it are kept safe, and so it is with these precautions that we prevent you from harm. Remember my children, this is only for your protection, and before every Gray rain there is a cloud with a silver lining." Shea remembered what the Head of the Council had broadcasted 5 years ago, and still broadcasts every Sunday evening.
Pulling the thick wool scarf tighter around her neck, Shea walked along the high-street that lead to the rundown apartment block where she lived. Few people were about at this time and those that were, were also soaked and held themselves in the same manner as Shea did; shoulders slumped forward, and head bowed. The lower classed workers usually finished at 8 p.m. in the evening, because none of them could afford the go out for drinks so they took the worst shifts, had the worst jobs and were paid less money for them. As is the way in New Mensah.
As she stood outside her apartment block, Shea looked towards the sky that was almost black. Stepping forward whilst still appraising the dreary weather Shea bumped into a walled mass of muscles.
“Oh! I’m so sorry sir, please forgive m..” she drifted off as she looked up to see the tall man looming above her.
He was dressed in a pair of black low slung jeans and a black dress shirt. Not many people who lived in this part of the city could afford such clothes, which placed him in the ‘average class’ category of people.
Well at least he’s not upper class. She thought to herself.
The stranger was a good foot and a half taller than Shea, with quite a muscular build leaving her feeling quite intimidated by his presence. Long wet ebony hair was tied back with a leather band, making his amused steely gray eyes more prominent and a five o’ clock shadow hugged his stubborn jaw.
“No harm done ma’am” He smiled, showing two rows of perfectly straight white teeth.
Shea bowed her head and nodded as she moved around his large form. Just as she opened the busted front door the stranger called out “I don’t suppose you could tell me where apartment 213 is could you?”
A shiver of fear ran up her spine as he said the number of her apartment. What did he want? Who was he? Was this about this month’s rent? So many thoughts swirled in her mind.
“Ma’am?” The man asked, curiously concerned.
“Who are you? Is this about the rent? I told Jacque that-“
The stranger cut her off, afraid that she would hyperventilate and draw unwanted attention to them.
“No, just an inspection of the property is all” his smooth accented voice assured.
YOU ARE READING
The Faith
Romance"Have you ever dreamed you were falling? Ever been in that state between consciousness and deep sleep were your legs are running but you are lying in bed? It's a survival instinct triggered when your mind let's off warning signals, engrained in our...
