The Dark Angel

I - Dying Angels

I

DYING ANGELS

~~~

People were yelling and cheering in the corner and Bryony watched them. They were celebrating like she was. It was the weekend and she was in a circle with her friends drinking shots.

          Bryony picked up the glass and gulped in down in one. She wretched slightly at the taste then set the glass down, watching her best friend, Cassie, down a beer.

          “Come on Bry, drink like there’s no tomorrow.” Chuckle Damien and picked up the vodka. Bryony shook her head and sat back whilst she observed Cassie giggling at a passing boy. “We need more drinks,” Cassie slams her fist down on the table and pouts like a child. “I’ll go get them,” Damien offers and nudges Jack who’d dozed off in his seat.

          The club door opened again and the club name ‘Crystal Wings’ shined brightly. Bryony always found that quite annoying whenever someone entered. The name would always shine. She watched as two boys and a girl entered. She recognised one of the boys – it was Ethan. He’s a fellow senior at her school that she’s liked for over a year now. She wasn’t stupid to know that he’d never acknowledge her existence. He was admired by almost all the girls. They’d all giggle about his blond hair with slight brown highlights, his clear blue eyes and his smile.

          Bryony had to admit that all those things made her like him even more. What annoyed her was that they were worlds apart. Next to him was a tall girl with straight hair. It was the same colour as Ethan’s but with a tint of red to it. The other boy was dark skinned and handsome. He had a watch around his wrist and stuffed his hands into his pockets.

          “Here we go,” Damien fought through the dancing crowd and spilled some of the beers. He placed them down in front of everyone but Bryony didn’t touch hers as her eyes stayed glued on Ethan.

          He turned and looked at her. She quickly averted her gaze and felt embarrassed. He’d seen her across the crowd staring at him. She furtively looked up and realised he’d gone. With a relieved sigh she sat back in her seat and tried to enjoy her eighteenth birthday.

***

The dry leaves crunched under her feet as she speeded down the road. She tightened her leather jacket around herself to keep warm. Bryony was quickly walking down the cold, silent street with only her drunk friend, Cassie, for company.

          Bryony rounded a corner and decided to take a shortcut whilst Cassie swung around on a lamppost and hummed something under her breath.

          “Tonight was so much fun.” Cassie squealed but Bryony scoffed. She didn’t think being drunk and vomiting on the streets as fun. Nevertheless, she loved her friends for trying to make her birthday special.

          Quite abruptly, the night air got colder. The harsh wind gave her shivers and her teeth chattered. She stopped. Bryony sucked in a breath and Cassie noticed that her friend was no longer walking with her.

          “Come on then,” Cassie beckoned her over, yet Bryony didn’t move. Her head turned to the right and she looked up at the old, ruined building before her. The windows were smashed and the broken shards glistened on the floor. One gate was hanging open with a faded ‘Keep Out’ sign still attached to it. Some of the higher windows were boarded up with wood and the place looked lonely and lost.