Final Curve
Final Curve
The rain falling behind me seemed to land in sheets, ribbons of white that struck the dark pavement and obliterated it in a fountain of light.
I knew that it was all fake, that none of it was real, but that didn't make me want to stop believing.
So I kept walking up the street, the rain gathering into balls like roe which hung from the brim of my wide sombrero, and dug my paws deeper into the pockets of my poncho.
The night was still young enough that the sky hadn't forgotten what day felt like, and the hot rain just made it clearer how close to summer it remained.
I let my tongue slip out, and taste the air. It tasted almost clean, like the rain had washed away all the sins of a thousand nights of Dust. But underneath it all, the tainted dryness was still there. The loss of that desperate desire was only temporary, at best.
I closed my eyes and swiveled my ears to listen. The sound of the rain was cool, calm, and without regret.
Everything I never was, but which others told me that I could be.
The rain began to tap and brush against my face as I turned it upwards, towards the Heavens. What mandate had turned the path of my feet to lead me here? And what sense of it could possibly exist.
As I stretched my claws to the sky I saw them out of the corner of my eye.
An armored car rushing around the corner, filled with spots of light.
Adrenaline rushed, my heart pounded. I tried to turn to run, but the vehicle wouldn't slow down. I needed to do something.
I needed to do it now.
But I found myself frozen to the spot, just staring, watching.
Was this the way I was to die?
The blaring headlights of the car made everything fade into light for a moment as it swerved and turned towards me, but I stood there stoically, refusing to make a move.
There was a terrible squealing sound which came as the car began to swerve to the left and right, and I could see from the flickering shaking lights of the oncoming car that it was starting to lose control on the wet pavement.
I would have moved to try to help, but staring into the headlights a clean ennui filled my soul. Movement seemed unnecessary, and impossible, and for once, I felt like I was at peace.
It was to my shame and regret that I just stood there as the car spun out, then began to flip and bounce impossibly as it began sliding downhill towards me, the angle slightly off.
It was like watching a projector for a moment, with the bright lights facing me, then not, then with a sickening crash the car went headlong into the front of one of the buildings to my left, and there was a soft wump as the airbags in it fired.
Left once more in the half darkness of the veiled moon, and once more alone on the avenue, I sighed, and pulled my poncho closer around myself, and began to walk again.
Curses weren't meant to be broken easily.
And I knew mine wouldn't end tonight.
FIN (12-1-2010 - 12-2-2010)