James
It’s weird how adaptable the human brain is. How capable of accepting new levels of what is ‘ordinary’. Despite knowing that I am now completely alone, I settle into a kind of routine.
Read… Run… Carry…
East Portside Road… El Valderado Bar…
I have my second wind, breathing easily. Even my leg isn’t giving me the trouble I thought it might. My muscles thoroughly warmed through now, I jog along, heading for my next destination.
Read… Run… Carry…
Parkmoor Bridge over West Marine Rise…
Pacing myself, pacing my breathing to match my easy trot, I survey dark windows…
Where are they?
… Parked cars… Alleyways… Cafes and kiosks…
Then passing through shadier areas; roof lights, warehouse windows, disused garages…
I skid to a halt.
Ahead of me, blocking my route…
Under the glare of a streetlamp, a group of youngsters, swilling back beer, yelling, pushing and shoving…
Look again…
No, not kids.
Young men.
Crap…
to pass them. And they
I cross
That would flag up as
stroll on, all nonchalance. That’s
Fucking limp…
the next, he jerks his chin my way
slung low at the belt, steps forward from
Are they Finchby's?
?
No…
louts on the lookout
What do they see?
Old man…
Limping…
Disabled?
Interesting looking bag…
“Evening,” he says.
“Good evening.”
get a nasty cold on your chest.” He
“Nothing of yours.”
the bag. “Coming back from the gym? Sports kit, eh? Looks
step forward, through the group, but they
glinting on the edge. “I used to have a bag like that.
grinning around to the group
Moron…
“Yeah… lost.”
be a finder’s
hand, the blade held up by his own face, displayed. “Like
not in the mood
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
The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!