Good morning one and all. The coffee is brewing and I had a fairly good nights sleep. I also got a lot done yesterday so I am feeling a little less as though I am swamped. This always happens when issues arise on a Monday. It always feels like i spend the rest of the week racing to catch up. Of course if Monday goes smoothly I feel that the week just slots right into place. I suppose Monday just sets the tone for the week. But I am feeling much better about today. I am no longer behind, but right on schedule. It’s a nice feeling. So let’s keep the schedule and get going shall we? Set your timers and let’s see what today’s prompt brings.
Oh, okay. I think I’ll need some more details as I think I compressed too much into a short space, but I think spread out and embellished this could be a fun one to write.
Thursday, March 31st: The stones were slick with rain.
The stones were slick with rain. The reflected the gas flames of the streetlight making the cobblestones gleam as though they too had fires within. He stepped carefully. He had no desire to slip and even less desire for his footsteps to echo on the stones. He knew that moving completely soundlessly was impossible, but he also knew that he came as close as was humanly possible. He moved as though he was a ghost himself, one shadow among many gliding in and out of the fog.
Things had become strange lately. Once he thought he was the only shadow man gliding through this part of the city. All others seemed to huddle together making a raucous noise and huddling together as if terrified. While he never wished anyone ill, merely wishing to avoid the light, lately another came into their midst. A man who moved as shadow quiet through the mist filled streets as he did, yet who harbored not a desire to avoid but a desire to kill.
Bodies had been found. They were in a terrible state and a mania gripped the city. Moving about had become more difficult as the killer remained uncaptured. He thought of relocating until this unsavory business was ended. The thought held little appeal. His lodgings here were not luxurious, but they were ideal. To find another situation so suitable could take months.
He angled his course away from the area the ‘other’ as he thought of him usually used as his hunting grounds. He knew his clothing could pass for the better districts He clearly had wealth, even if it was of the understated variety. His manners were beyond reproach. However in this country the higher one’s position the more a person had to have connections. To have his wealth and his manners, but no visible connections would invite speculation, possibly even inquiry.
He had little love of his family but he had sworn that he would sever all connections with them and he had never broken his word. To seek better accommodation in this city would be damnably close to breaking oath. Which left him one course of action.
He would have to leave the city.
There were places he could go, places where he would be welcomed even if he did find more comfort in solitude. As he made his decision to seek out this course he realized that he was only staying out of a sense of stubbornness. There were none here who would miss him, just as he would miss none of them. Leaving was an annoyance nothing more.
He adjusted his course moving towards the shipyards and the schedules of the sailing vessels. They were usually posted and he was certain the night watchman could give him the location if nothing else. He was out of the hunting grounds of the ‘other’ by now. He could afford to be seen if he wished.
He peered through the fog and located the lantern held by the night watchman. With a sigh, he made his steps deliberately heavy, treading loudly on the stones until the night watchman heard him and turned in his direction.
Ten til Midnight 