The rest of the day I was left in relative quiet. There didn’t seem to be any more activity by either the Defenders or Blacksnake’s people, but neither did that mean I was totally safe. With the apparent disappearance of both mutant groups, men like the first two began to reappear. For the moment I seemed to be safer in the abandoned apartment house than anywhere else. With the stairs between first and second floors destroyed and the old fire escape both noisy and flimsy in itself, I felt I’d have ample warning of anyone approaching my current hideout. Choosing the apartment closest to the fire escape on the top floor, the Beast lay down next to the door and slept. The sounds of a gunbattle penetrated my dreams once, but they ended as quickly as they began and all was quiet again.
I awoke well after dark. The sky was mostly cloudy, but the moon occasionally broke through to cast its silvery light onto the darkened buildings around the Yards, below. I rose and leaned out the window, laying my hands carefully on the sill to avoid the broken glass. I couldn’t see any movement other than a few cars on Main Street, so I guessed that it was near, or maybe just after closing time at the club. Now might be my only chance to slip into my former apartment and gather my things and leave. I’d have to abandon everything but the clothes I owned and Chantré, the guitar given me by my brother when I had to leave home. It wouldn’t be the first time, and as long as I had Chantré, I could always earn enough money to survive.
I slipped back along the hallway to the staircase, following it down as much by feel as anything to the second floor. Not daring to even consider a light of any kind, as if I had one anyway, I crawled down one step at a time until I found one that wouldn’t support my weight. This was one time my slender frame worked to my advantage as I could tell I had only about a two meter drop to the floor, maybe less. Feeling along the edge, I found the banister might be able to hold me long enough to hang down and drop only a half-meter or less onto the ruin made by Vengeance’s assault. With luck, I wouldn’t make enough noise to draw attention.
Immediately I followed my plan. I grasped what was left of the banister and hand-walked my way to the broken end, feeling it sag slowly under my weight. Just as I was about to let go, my toes touched wood and I was down. Dim light entered from the street through the smashed doorway; just enough now to let me make my way carefully over the almost-slippery boards that wanted to shift each time I moved. Looking out through the doorway, I realized I was only a block away from Main Street and two blocks from my hotel. I’d never knowingly passed by my current hiding place before, but the street lamps on Main dimly highlighting the sign on the bingo parlor told me exactly where I was.
I’d come almost full circle from the night of my kidnapping. The street lamp was too bright, I couldn’t expect to remain hidden from anyone driving along the street right there, but the alleyway that had concealed my kidnappers’ van remained dark, as was the street lamp at its mouth. If I could slip out there, I could sprint over to the hotel and maybe even get up to my apartment without being seen. Most nights when I returned from the club, the desk attendant sat snoring into a magazine, completely unconscious to the comings and goings of the residents. More than once I’d simply reached over the desk and retrieved my room key without awakening him.
Softly I ran, letting my long, black hair camouflage my pale skin in the darkness. Dashing along the sidewalk, I reached the alley and slipped around the corner into inky blackness. I listened closely to see if my sprint had attracted attention, but I heard nothing. Almost home! Just a little farther and I would be able to leave this town forever! Creeping slowly just off center of the alley, to avoid the trash and other effluence, I eased up to the corner of the bingo parlor and planned my next steps. A bright flare burned in my mind! An attack! Coming from above and behind! Without thinking, I sprang forward and rolled, rising to my feet facing my attacker.
“I will not let you take me back! Work for you I will, never,” I cried.
I let the Beast rise in my mind and dove for the wall of the bingo parlor. My attacker yelled something, but I ignored him as I passed through the glass and brick into the dark comfort of the interior. Muscles quivering with exhaustion unassuaged by my earlier sleep, I made my way silently through the building, beneath tables and around chairs until I found a corner, somewhat concealed from view. There I waited for them to seek me out. I couldn’t run any more. I could only hope to fight–and to die.
