DeadEye

Chapter 1

A chill runs through me as the night reaches it’s blackest point. That means it’s 4am. The coldest, darkest time of the night. I inhale a lungful of cold air, and exhale softly, watching the vapour dissipate into the air, tinted by the light of the sulphur street lamps.

“Remain on busy, well-lit streets. Do not take short-cuts, keep to the path that everybody would expect you to walk.”

I dip my head as I head towards the tunnel under the bypass, glancing at my watch to confirm that it is indeed 4am. The subtle change in air pressure, the dimming of the light and the sharp drop in temperature that occurs at this time makes the environment feel particularly hostile. It is this same sharp change in the air that causes the elderly and infirm to die in their sleep. In the tunnel itself, the change is unnoticeable, even comforting.

“Always look like you know exactly where you are going. Walk at a brisk pace, with your head raised high”

I emerge from the tunnel and the cold air hits me harshly. It feels even colder than before, and it takes me a moment for my eyes to adjust from the light of the tunnel to the darkness of the street.

The neighbourhood watch meetings are getting longer, and the Sergeant is becoming more imperative in his safety sermons. Hard to blame him, a woman was gang raped here just three weeks ago by some degenerate sociopaths, and yet, I couldn’t help but think he had other things on his mind.

“Do not walk alone if you can avoid it.”

These streets are as empty as Prypiat by night. Old Velling had been a popular spot for soldiers and sailors to settle after the war, but over the years, it had begun to rot. Madness pervades this town like a plague, and the root causes are numerous and unfathomable.

I am tired of walking. I need to rest my legs for a moment, and savour the cleansing bitterness of the cold night air. I walk over to a bollard in the centre of the road and sit on it. Sliding the tin out of my pocket, I slip a cigarillo out, put it into my mouth and light it with my Zippo.  I was breaking every one of the Sergeant’s rules; partly in out of a sense of juvenile rebellion – To me, they were about as useful as a glass of water to a man trapped in a burning building. They didn’t mean anything, they were just there to make it seem as though they were making progress against an invisible enemy; A Hostis publicus they couldn’t even comprehend.

“Keep cash, headphones, mobile phones, watches, jewellery and other items out of site, so as not to attract attackers.”

I draw deeply on my cigarillo. This night would end soon, and I’d sleep through to noon. It had been uneventful night so far, and I eagerly anticipate turning in to bed, but nothing could beat a cigarillo in the cold night air. Well, maybe one thing.

From a distance, the sound of soft but determined footsteps could be heard coming from further up the road. The streets are not so empty after all. I look to see two hooded men approach from the end of the road. One of them is significantly taller than the other, and is smoking a cigarette. He holds it in a manner that obscures the lit end, in the same way that entrenched soldiers used to smoke, to avoid detection from snipers and other perils.

The taller one casts his cigarette to the floor, and picks up the pace a little, keeping his head low to obscure his face. I can see from their awkward gait that they are heading my way, but do not want me to realise. As they get closer, their movements are less subtle, and by the time they are within spitting distance, this disguise is dropped altogether.

“Got a spare fag for me have you?” the taller one says holding his hand up towards my face and rubbing his index finger and thumb together expectantly.
I flinch away from  him, almost toppling off the bollard. He is taller than me, possible 6ft5, with short spiky hair and a pale, pockmarked face that has clearly been through the nastier stages of puberty. His accomplice is a shorter, rounder man, who –in sharp contrast to his friend- barely looks like he went through puberty at all.