The Task

[sisterkenna.livejournal.com]

I huddled in the corner, clutching the stolen sandwich to my breast as I glared at the doorway opposite.  They would come out soon; the one The Master wanted.  The Master was always watching, even in this strange place where the unbound walked the streets. The Master would be interested in those too, I knew, but there were too many. Too many and too much information to carry back. No I watched the Escaped one, through the door of the shop in front of me. They had got away and it was my job to bring the information back. The Master would punish them I knew, punish them for their insolence. They might even kill them. That would be good. They should not have got out. They could not be allowed to tell others.

The Escaped one passed something over the counter. Money, something in my head told me, and then headed out towards me. They always seemed to come to this place, this shop, every day. I followed them easily down the street. They didn’t see me. They must have been a play thing or something. They were pretty easy to spot. That magicky thing ‘round them made them stick out like a sore thumb, all glowy even when it’s dark. They will walk down the way next, then stop and eat their... pasty on the bench by the river. They do it every day. Repetition, nice and simple. A couple more days and I will go and report. Should not be too hard to get The Master’s attention. I’m The Shadow, it is my job to know when what I have got to say is important.  And if its not... Well I know when it is. 3 handfuls of crumbs from the bag in the pocket. It is a Wednesday. Tomorrow it will be two. Yesterday it was one. The pigeons are very happy with themselves.

The other Escaped one is eating chips and fish tonight. It is Thursday. Last Thursday it was pasta and tomato sauce and cheese. Lasagne, it is called apparently.  This one is harder, they do not do the same thing every day. They go to the gray building once a week on the same day. Most weeks. Always a Monday. Tuesday is dancing. Friday is pool. I do not take notes. The Master does not like notes. I must remember. I must report. The Escaped ones will go back. Both of them will. Then I will look into the other two.

My bed is somewhere else, I go through the gate to the half-way land to get there. Through the tangles. The big road opened up 4 days ago, it has made it easier. The little paths through the brambles are harder to be quiet on. The road stretches all the way across Kent, I headed there now, after watching 6 pigeons eat all of the crumbs they gave out. One more than last week. It is getting dark as I head back, the half-way place is a little scary in the dark. I like it. The thrill makes my nerves tingle. There could be anyone behind those briars. I take the big road, blending in with the shadows there. It is a useful trick I learned. I pace along quietly. Being quiet is never hard for me. There are a few rustlings from the hedge around me, it is more of a hedge the further in I go. It goes almost underground in places. Something scuttles past me, heading the other way. I clench my fists, nerves fizzing. There is something bigger coming the other way now. Something tall and thin and dark. It moves silently too, but I can see it. I shrink to the side, not wanting to be seen. What if it is one of the Escaped ones? I shiver, trying even harder to blend in. Something else scuttles past me and I jump to one side and instantly curse myself as I send a pebble skittering.  The figure coming towards me speeds up. It is quite close now. I can hear him breathing.

                “Nox!”

I stop. I look up. The figure comes towards me. My mind fills with memory. Too much information. Battles and castles and dark roads. Deaths and lives. Friends. Friends. What am I doing? I am the Shadow no longer.