Rain drummed against the alley, relentless and cold. My boots splashed in puddles, pulling at my mood like the city itself wanted me to hate it.
I crouched, eyeing the footprints. Half faded, half stubborn. Someone had been here. Or maybe more than one someone. My stomach twisted.
"Okay… think," I muttered to myself. "Footprints, trash tipped over, blood… probably a warning. Or a trap. Yep. Definitely a trap." Me being me, I guess stumbling upon it was pretty obvious.
Splash… splash…
I stepped over a toppled trash can. The smell hit me: rotting food, wet cardboard, something metallic that made my stomach clench. My pulse kicked in. Cold sweat ran down my neck despite the rain.
I leaned closer to a dark smear on the wall. Blood? Rust? Who knows. Doesn't matter. Just observe. Don't panic. Or panic quietly.
Creak…
Movement. Soft. Deliberate. My heart skipped. "Figures. Someone's watching. Of course." I whispered. Nobody answered. The alley didn't care. The rain didn't care. I didn't care.
Splash… splash…
I crouched lower, examining the footprints again. Direction unclear. Purpose unclear. Intent… maybe deadly? My thoughts raced. "Could be a kid. Could be a killer. Yeah… no pressure."
Click… click…
Metal scraping somewhere in the shadows. Someone wanted me to notice. My chest tightened.
I muttered under my breath, "Why me? Why always me?" A laugh bubbled up despite my nerves. Stupid! Dangerous! Necessary!
I straightened, pulling my coat tighter. Wet fabric stuck to my arms. Rain dripped in my hair. Fingers brushed damp bricks. Every sense was alive eyes straining in dim light, ears straining for footsteps, nose catching every hint of the alley's secrets.
Splash… splash…
I noticed the shadows shift again. Not the disappearing man. Someone else. Watching. Waiting. Patience in motion. A grin pulled at my lips. "Fine. Let's play your game. But I play better."
My mind flashed back, briefly, to other alleys, other nights, other moments I'd survived by noticing the smallest things no one else cared about. That "skill" had kept me alive so far. Maybe luck would hold again. Maybe not.
A faint click echoed closer. My pulse spiked. Adrenaline surged. I muttered, "Okay… move. Observe. Don't get caught. Don't look stupid. Or die. That too."
Splash… splash…
I took another careful step deeper into the alley. Cold, wet, tense. Fingers brushing wet walls. Heart hammering. Mind alive with possibilities. Someone had left a message here. Or a trap. Or both. And I was stupid enough to read it.
And, as always, I followed.