impressive in its
complexity, but it’s old, and it seems like some of the corners
have become public toilets. I pull the neckline of my shirt up over
my nose. While my senses adjust, I take a moment to look at the
route map that stretches out like a rainbow-patterned spider’s web.
Josh is headed in the other direction, so we part ways at our
respective train platforms. The time posted on the electronic
display shows it’s just after two in the morning. Much later than I
imagined. Luckily, the last train of the night hasn’t come by yet.
As we wait, Amara attracts a lot of attention, if not for her
beauty then for her tattoo, and Arden scowls at the offending
eyes.
When the train arrives, I sit across from them
trying to keep my focus elsewhere in case he gets the wrong idea.
All I want is to slump into the comfort of my bed and put
everything behind me. Sure, it was a nice boost to my ego to get
the attention tonight, but I have to chalk it up to a temporary
glitch in the regular programming that is my life. I can count on
one hand the times that girls have actually flirted with me, and
each time I failed to realize their intentions until well after
saying something inappropriate in response to their advances.
Personal life history aside, there was something really weird about
the whole turn of events at Club Cin-Cin. I’m the guy who stands at
the edge of the dance floor wondering why he even bothered showing
up. That’s the last thought I have before nodding off, completely
oblivious that my entire life as I know it is about to change.
6. Eyes
Wide Open
M y head droops and I wake, startled. Only then am I aware
that I dozed off. I’m not sure for how long. The train pulls into
the stop before ours and we all get to our feet shortly after. We
disembark and continue walking back to the flat. The excitement of
the club has completely worn off and reality has set in again. At
this hour, the streets take on an eerie, abandoned feeling. Shops
closed hours ago and their windows are dark. I thrust my hands into
my pants pockets. Amara doesn’t seem to feel the chill, despite her
backless top.
The three of us are wordless beneath the circles of
streetlights. Considering the conversational options of awkward and
hostile, I don’t particularly mind the silence. It’s the lack of
chatter that allows me to hear Arden curse under his breath behind
me. What is it now? I follow his eyes to the edge of a shadow,
where an animal, possibly a stray dog, appears. The creature’s ears
prick up as it turns its head toward us. Its eyes catch the light
of the streetlamp, making them appear to glow green. A low growling
emanates from it. Instinctively, I put myself between the beast and
Amara and scan the street for something to defend myself with ―
maybe a tree branch ― to keep it at bay.
“What are you doing?” she asks.
For just a second, I think about explaining going
all lion-tamer on the animal. It takes a lot to convince myself
that the creature is actually a common, ordinary dog of the
household pet variety. Everything about it screams wild animal.
“Keep walking,” Arden orders.
I do as I’m instructed and increase my pace to keep
up with Amara. Arden, however, begins to fall behind. When I glance
back out of concern, I slow my pace to watch him move toward the
beast.
“What the hell is he doing?” I murmur.
“He is taking care of the situation,” Amara says.
“Please, Connor, we must move quickly.”
“What do you mean?” I lower my voice further.
“That looks like a wolf. And don’t tell me it’s another
made-up-sounding dog breed.”
“It is not,” she says flatly. “It is much
worse.”
I stumble over the sidewalk curb.
“But Arden can take care of himself.”
“Are you insane?” I stop in my tracks
altogether.
Amara looks at me, genuinely alarmed. “What are you
doing?”
“Your boyfriend looks like he’s about to take on a
wolf, and you’re not even remotely
complexity, but it’s old, and it seems like some of the corners
have become public toilets. I pull the neckline of my shirt up over
my nose. While my senses adjust, I take a moment to look at the
route map that stretches out like a rainbow-patterned spider’s web.
Josh is headed in the other direction, so we part ways at our
respective train platforms. The time posted on the electronic
display shows it’s just after two in the morning. Much later than I
imagined. Luckily, the last train of the night hasn’t come by yet.
As we wait, Amara attracts a lot of attention, if not for her
beauty then for her tattoo, and Arden scowls at the offending
eyes.
When the train arrives, I sit across from them
trying to keep my focus elsewhere in case he gets the wrong idea.
All I want is to slump into the comfort of my bed and put
everything behind me. Sure, it was a nice boost to my ego to get
the attention tonight, but I have to chalk it up to a temporary
glitch in the regular programming that is my life. I can count on
one hand the times that girls have actually flirted with me, and
each time I failed to realize their intentions until well after
saying something inappropriate in response to their advances.
Personal life history aside, there was something really weird about
the whole turn of events at Club Cin-Cin. I’m the guy who stands at
the edge of the dance floor wondering why he even bothered showing
up. That’s the last thought I have before nodding off, completely
oblivious that my entire life as I know it is about to change.
6. Eyes
Wide Open
M y head droops and I wake, startled. Only then am I aware
that I dozed off. I’m not sure for how long. The train pulls into
the stop before ours and we all get to our feet shortly after. We
disembark and continue walking back to the flat. The excitement of
the club has completely worn off and reality has set in again. At
this hour, the streets take on an eerie, abandoned feeling. Shops
closed hours ago and their windows are dark. I thrust my hands into
my pants pockets. Amara doesn’t seem to feel the chill, despite her
backless top.
The three of us are wordless beneath the circles of
streetlights. Considering the conversational options of awkward and
hostile, I don’t particularly mind the silence. It’s the lack of
chatter that allows me to hear Arden curse under his breath behind
me. What is it now? I follow his eyes to the edge of a shadow,
where an animal, possibly a stray dog, appears. The creature’s ears
prick up as it turns its head toward us. Its eyes catch the light
of the streetlamp, making them appear to glow green. A low growling
emanates from it. Instinctively, I put myself between the beast and
Amara and scan the street for something to defend myself with ―
maybe a tree branch ― to keep it at bay.
“What are you doing?” she asks.
For just a second, I think about explaining going
all lion-tamer on the animal. It takes a lot to convince myself
that the creature is actually a common, ordinary dog of the
household pet variety. Everything about it screams wild animal.
“Keep walking,” Arden orders.
I do as I’m instructed and increase my pace to keep
up with Amara. Arden, however, begins to fall behind. When I glance
back out of concern, I slow my pace to watch him move toward the
beast.
“What the hell is he doing?” I murmur.
“He is taking care of the situation,” Amara says.
“Please, Connor, we must move quickly.”
“What do you mean?” I lower my voice further.
“That looks like a wolf. And don’t tell me it’s another
made-up-sounding dog breed.”
“It is not,” she says flatly. “It is much
worse.”
I stumble over the sidewalk curb.
“But Arden can take care of himself.”
“Are you insane?” I stop in my tracks
altogether.
Amara looks at me, genuinely alarmed. “What are you
doing?”
“Your boyfriend looks like he’s about to take on a
wolf, and you’re not even remotely
Similar Books
