Out of the Darkness

Beautiful, enchanted evening! Such a lovely time with the girls! And they were happy having been given three whole nights of rest, and she, that they had celebrated so well!

The cooks had surpassed themselves today! She had never eaten such delicious dishes or drunk such fabulous wine. It was so wonderful how she had sat and chatted with the girls for long today, not as a boss with subordinates, not as a mother with her children, but as real friends.

Won-der-ful!

Today she decided to change her habits. Usually, she returned home from the Blue Eyes by taxi, although she lived very close: she did not feel like walking at all after a working night. But now, being slightly drunk and in an adventurous mood, she took a walk. Only three blocks—just the right thing to end such a wonderful evening!

She had another reason to walk as well: a gift from Sky that she really couldn't wait to try.

A music player! She had never had such a device nor was having one a dream of hers, but today when she inserted a cassette by her favorite singer into it and put on the small headphones to hear a familiar tune… She had not expected to like it so much.

Therefore, she walked and smiled. Not at anyone in particular, just at the world.

***

The route was always the same; it didn't matter whether by taxi or on foot. You went straight three blocks, turned into and went through an arch, and then you were in the courtyard. The first entrance to the left was hers. The area was costly, although not elite. However, it was in the city center, within walking distance from work.

The main street is always well lit as—these are neighborhoods for the idle and the happy. From aggressive rabble, pedestrians were guarded by police patrols which passed along the road from time to time. This street was one of the safest places in the city.

Although under the arch, it was actually quite dark. There was nothing to fear, but in contrast to the bright illumination on the main street and the warm light in the courtyard, the space under the arch looked grim.

Someone walking on the other side of the road waved at her, and she waved back. She was in a great mood. The music was beautiful. What else did she need?

Be careful.

She halted in front of the entrance to the arch. There, on the asphalt, lay a man.

"Hey, who's there?" she asked quietly.

There was no answer. Maybe he didn't hear me?

"Are you all right?"

She stepped into the arch and walked over to the lying figure. It wasn't a person, but a bunch of rags. A bum. Young. Lying on his right side and in his left arm holding an unfinished bottle of cheap vodka. Drunk, of course.

"Hey, get up. You'll catch cold." She tried to push him awake, but he just grunted something and continued to sleep.

Her mood was excellent, so she didn't want to mess with the bum, let alone get in some argument with him. Lie there, why not? He wasn't bothering anyone, he wasn't vomiting all over the place, he didn't stink… Quite a decent bum, actually.

In addition, her favorite song began to play. Cool!

And here, the arch and its darkness finished, and she entered the well-lit courtyard.

If you turned around…

She lifted her head and looked up at the night sky. The stars shone brightly, and the song—the song was also about stars.

…it would be more intriguing.

"I'm sorry, Madam, but I have to kill you."

She did not hear the voice: the chorus sounded in the headphones, and she softly sang along.

After two minutes, her song ended.