8

CHAPTER 8

 The streets were quiet, they were cold and damp. The flicker of flames in glass cases on long steel posts lit up the main walkway as much as it could, the moon lit up the rest. The stones on the ground in front of me appeared black under the thin veil of water that gave them a shiny gloss. The smell of garbage wafted over me, food lay strewn about on the walkway, a robbery had probably taken place and probably by some hungry homeless men or women or even children.

 Few people walked the streets, I walked past one or two, leaning against the walls of buildings, their faces lit up by their cigarettes held between tight lips.

 I pulled my coat a little tighter, the moisture in the air held a chill with a slight breeze that caught the hairs on the back of my neck. I rubbed them for warmth.

 The cylinder danced between my fingers in my pocket. It felt hot, then cold and almost never stayed still. I tried to resist it, to resist touching its smooth surface but I couldn’t. It became a habit.

 I patted my pockets down for matches with my right hand; my left had my pipe in it and brought it up to my mouth. I stopped and kept searching, wondering if I had left them behind in Don’s house. I really didn’t want to go back, but shops wouldn’t be open this time of night. I frowned, looking out into the night.

 Something caught my eye. An unusual glow came from behind a building. It shone like a white fire out into the night. I tucked my pipe back into my pocket and took a right and headed into an alley which joined the source of the glow. I stood with my back to the corner, leant out slightly and peered out onto the narrow back alley.

 I squinted into the light. It burned my eyes but I had seen it before. I stepped out, confronting it head on. The light wasn’t a fire, it was a soul. Just like the souls I saw when I entered the Netherworld.

 “What are you doing here?” I called out, “how?” My voice wavered unsure of what stood in front of me. I stepped forward, what I lacked in courage I made up in curiosity. I wondered whether it was possible for them to follow me back, for them to enter our world.

 The glow dimmed, just like when I was unconscious. A body stood in front of me, tall and thin. The man from the photo and the Netherworld peered over his thin framed glasses at me, sadness in his eyes. Unlike the emotionless state he was in before. Tears rolled down his high cheekbones.

 I approached him, still squinting at the small sun like glow that radiated from his chest. His thin goatee twitched around his thin lips.

 “Who are you?”

 He didn’t answer; again he just stared at me.

 “If you’re a soul, how could you be here? How can I see you?” I stepped back. I was confused. “I thought you were stuck in the Netherworld. Souls couldn’t cross....” I stopped short; I put my hand into my pocket and took out the cylinder. The familiar man looked at the cylinder then back into my eyes. His were hollow, empty, despite the emotion now being displayed on his face his eyes still remained dark.

 The cylinder burned, the metal turned a flame red. I dropped it. A clink rang out as it hit the stones at my feet. It rolled across the ground until it hit my boot. “It is a soul, isn’t it?”

 Slowly he nodded. The man still looked at me. The glow in his chest grew brighter, the white light consumed me. I felt its warmth, it grew hotter and brighter, it was like standing in the sun’s rays in the height of summer. I began to breathe heavier, sweat gathered on my forehead as I held a hand up.

 “Stop!” I called out but there was no response. My hands felt hot against the soul’s light.

 The heat was unbearable; I felt of energy. Falling to one knee, I looked once again into the blinding white light.

 It dimmed. Died away like an extinguished flame. One moment it was there and if I had blinked, I wouldn’t have seen it disappear.

 I attempted to blink away the white spots that danced in front of my eyes.

 Standing up I looked around wildly wondering if anyone else had seen what I had just seen. No one stood behind me, no one in the windows of the buildings on either side. It would appear that I was the only one. I would have thought someone would have seen the light and come to investigate. Apparently not.

 I picked up the cylinder; it felt quite cool to the touch. I looked at it for a moment before tucking it away.

 A cheer came from a few blocks away. Probably a rowdy tavern. I took out my pipe and attempted another light. I rubbed my neck as the soothing tobacco smoke filled my lungs and eased my mind.

“I could do with a drink.”

Reviews

[Morrigan Nicole]

Brilliant! Loved the ending. F I were in his position, I'd be begging for a drink as well. Loving this!

[Coyote Poetry]

A very good chapter. I like the meeting and need for a drink. I look forward to the up-coming conversation in the tavern. A excellent chapter. I had to do a complete re-read.
Coyote

["jens books".]

not bad .... i liked it .... great job on this chapter ...... i really loved it it was amazing .... keep up the good work .. and thanks for sharing it with me ...... .
i give you a 100 on rating for your review

[Calypso]

Not bad. It was a good length and it kept the reader wanting more.
I like the overall time of this chapter. It's very dark and mysterious.

[SuicidePact.]

I don't know what to say.

:)

too good for my words..

thanks for sharing this kind sir

xx S.P