Dark City

This does not have much of a purpose other than being itself. Just a short story.

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A dark city bustled in the bleak rain of winter. The noise of nightlife rose from the streets winding through the tall gray buildings. Down one of the blackest streets steam billowed from the water drains as the silhouette of a woman walked alone down the sidewalk. The doors of a hidden bar lay open with a soft dim light falling to the floor and the lights declaring the place open and the various beverages that lay inside glimmered almost unwelcomingly in its blackened windows. Regardless of her usual actions, the woman walked in to the solemn pub.

Under the lights the clear exhaustion that lingered around her shown. With the deep bags under her eyes and paleness of her cheeks, her slate eyes shone little brighter though dimmed. The shoulder-length light brown hair swerved slightly as she removed her coat and draped it on a stool as she sat down in front of the bar tender.

The bar tender eyed her cautiously as he scrubbed a glass with a rag; she then removed a small handgun from her waist and laid it on the table.

“Some hot chocolate please.” The woman said speaking kindly to the bar tender, she then added, “With mint, if you don’t mind.”

The man simply nodded watching her for another moment longer before retrieving her request, he grunted before turning.

The solemn woman didn’t move. She stared at her hands folded in front of her on the table, clearly in deep thought, not truly looking at anything.

The few others in the small pub also noticed her watching her closely, eying the gun on the table more than its owner herself.

The bar tender returned with her drink, setting it in front of her with steam rising from the small hole in the lid and the soothing aroma of its added ingredient filling the air.

“Thank you, Charlie.” She whispered, taking hold of the cup with both hands and inhaling deeply.

She closed her eyes and took a sip, stopping with her elbows on the table and the cup still between her hands. It was at this time that the diamond ring sitting on the ring finger of her left hand glimmered in the small light above her. The woman watched the lights dancing off of the small gem processing its significance.

Then, setting the still steaming cup on the counter, she looked to Charlie standing a few feet away.

“Would you mind telling me what time it is?” she asked quietly.

“Well, it’s nearly three in the morning.” He replied carefully.

“Hmm.” She said lowering her head slightly.

A moment later a phone began to ring. The woman slowly reached in her pocket, pulling out a black cell phone. She stopped as it still rang, looking at the caller ID on the screen with sad eyes, then sighed and flipped it open.

“Yes?” she answered.

There was some hurried mumbling on the other end and with a calm voice she replied clearly.

“Nathaniel Isaac Karson.” Without another word she closed the phone, ending the call.

There was silence as every person in the bar had their eyes on her, wondering what the conversation had been about.

The woman swallowed the rest of her drink, letting the warm mint run through her, soothing her a little. The bar man was the first to speak.

“Will that be all Corporal Karson?”

“Yes, thank you.” She replied without looking up.

She then pulled out her wallet leaving the cash on the counter. No one said a word as she gathered her things and pulled her coat on. The wind kicked up outside as she walked out of the door.

“Where are you headed?” Charlie asked respectfully.

“Don’t know… probably somewhere quiet.” She replied with a sigh.

The corporal was still alone as she continued down the dark street. There was no one around to see where she was headed, and she didn’t even know herself. Then behind her, sirens sounded while red and blue lights lit up the clouds in the sky.