I N F I N I T E S

You Look Like You Need Help

Brite scanned around the multiple road deviations leading down to different stores. One road looked like it was for spice trading, as there were piles upon piles of multicolored dusts. Another path looked like it was for jewelry and vanity items.
Brite was at a loss for which path he should choose. He didn't know what was in any of them so it really wouldn't matter where he decided to walk to. He decided that he would leave the choice up to randomness. He closed his eyes and began to spin around. Lifting one arm up and forward, he pointed a finger out. This way he would stop spinning and be led to whatever road he was pointing at.
He stopped spinning and opened his eyes. His finger was pointing down a row that was darker and mustier than all the others. He did not hesitate to walk towards the shadow blanketed avenue.
He stepped into the row and took in the sites around him. This row was different from the others. It was covered over by multiple tarps spanning across the roofs of the buildings. The buildings themselves were a bit dirty and grubby. The salesmen there were mostly covered from head to two with the exception of their eyes and hands.
The people shopping here just pushed past Brite with either a mumble or a "watch it." Brite could sense the unease about this place. It was like everyone their had a skeleton in their closet. People hugged their belongings close as they hunched over. Their were a few other people there who weren't human but were definitely humanoid.
Some of them looked like gruff men with wolf ears and long parts of cloaks and jackets all over them. He saw a one armed man get kicked out of one of the shops. He rolled to the ground yelled out at nothing. He got back up on his wobbly legs, and then looked at Brite.
"Whaddya lookin at?"
He said with slurred pronunciation.
The one armed man then fell down to the ground and started to snore. Brite thought it was best not to disturb him.
Alleyways were in between every shop. Rats squeaked as they ran past. It was then that Brite realized that some of these people were like rats. They had the ears of a rodent and many little earrings. They wore light fitted and scrappy clothing with their rat tails dragging behind them.
Brite saw this alleyway as a great learning experience, but he still felt like something was telling him to watch his back. He strode carefully down the road, making sure that he didn't move to close to anyone who gave of the aura of anger.
The lights of swinging lanterns passed over the street. They didn't really help to illuminate the place. They were about as useful as bug spray against wasps. The whole place just seemed to be in constant night.
Brite didn't really like the lack of light, but he was willing to brave this area for the chance at learning anything about where he was. He knew whatever he learned here, good or bad, would be useful.
Pickpockets didn't seem to be a problem for him. He didn't really have any pockets, nor anything actually valuable on him. Thieves would take about one look at him and dismiss him as not even worth a thought. He wanted to smile, but something told him that now smiling would not enhance anyone's mood.
The deeper into the row he walked the more he learned. He saw one stand selling many different hand designed knives. One building had a notice board on the outside. Though of course he couldn't read what any of the papers on it said.
Shady men in jackets prowled around trying to interest people into buying any of the odd devices within his jacket. They all had the same tactics of getting up and in front of anyone they targeted. They wouldn't let them forward until they either bought something or threatened them with dirty daggers strapped to their belts.
    Brite had sensed no emotions of good intentions this entire time he'd been walking here. He only felt all the discontent about the air. He did not question how he could sense emotions. He thought that it was an ability that everyone had.
    He was broken from his mental concentration when out of the corner of his eye he saw something. Down one of the wider alleys he saw two figures. One was a woman with wolf ears and green eyes. She wore a long raggedy tan dress and hood that let her ears out the top. She was clutching a homemade purse to her chest.The other figure was a man with black leather pants and a chain belt. He had a nose golden nose ring and his head was shaved bald.
     He was pushing the woman deeper in the alley with a wicked grin. He drew out a curved knife with a custom grip handle.
    "C'mon little lady all I want is the bag"
    He said with a taunting tone.
    Pushing the woman to the ground he put his foot down on the women's hand.
    "Or maybe I'll just take yer fingers with it!"
    Brite didn't know quite what was happening but he refused to just stand their and watch. He felt the fear of the woman and the intent of the man. His feet turned to face the alley and he sprinted forward with incredible speed. His legs seemed to carry him all on their own.
    The man in the alley noticed Brite coming at him. He stabbed his knife just as Brite was in front of him. Brite angled his chest away from the direction of the stab with movement so quick the man couldn't even react. Then Brite didn't stop their, he realized that there was a chance that if he didn't take this man out he might try to hurt the woman again.
    He brought both his arms up and grabbed the outstretched arm of the man. Using his gathered momentum he swung the man off his feet and spun around. He spun once, twice, then gritted his teeth and forced the man over his head and slammed him down on the ground.
    The man let out a spit of blood and coughed while he lay flat on the ground. He looked up at Brite with a frightened expression.
    "Oh no this ain't worth it."
    And with that he stood up clutching his side and started to run away from Brite and the woman. He tripped a few times and scuffed himself in the dirt but he made sure he would get far away from the two of them.
    Brite  turned to the woman to see if she was alright. She quickly dusted herself off and rose to meet Brite. She clasped her hands around Brite's and looked into his eyes.
    Upon closer observation of her face he realized she had two identical black stripes under her eyes. Her expression was grateful yet almost in tears. She whispered to him quietly:
    "Thank You."
    Then she too ran out of the alley and down the street. The moment when he was fighting the man time seemed to stand still, but when he had the woman's hands in his own it was if he didn't have enough time.
    He stood there for a few moments taking in what just happened. He didn't even know he was capable of that.
    He shook his head to wake himself up to the moment. He stepped back out of the alley and tried to look for the woman. A look of worry was across his face. He wondered why the woman had to go so fast after what just happened.
    His head darted around as his eyes scanned over the faces and emotions of all the people around him. It was about a whole hour later after looking all over the row that he really lost spirit.
    That's when he heard a gentle voice from behind him.
    "Hello. You look like you need help."