The first night

He disposed to abandon  his refuge; a small room with low consumption yellow lights, an individual bed, a little desk and a library, maybe it wouldn’t worth anything but he took his old wallet in which he had some money, he looked for his lighter and a package of cigarettes which looked unaffected by time, unpolluted and only with a couple missing; he put them in one of his pockets and walked to the entrance, removed the metal bars that locked the door and went out to that world that maybe he didn’t know. 

While he was leaving the building where he have rested, he bumped with someone in the halls, it seemed strange for him but apparently fashion didn’t change drastically so it wouldn’t be a problem to go unnoticed, he decided to walk out through the main door, the man who was at the reception found himself confused since he didn’t know this man and he didn’t see him go in or out, so he got up with the intention of inquiring about his identity, as soon as the stranger stared at him, he unwittingly sat down again.

The mysterious man got to the street without any setbacks and to his extreme surprise everything was almost the same and at the same time so different, the deterioration was evident but it was all in the same place.

-Unexpected but I guess it’s ok, this way I won’t have any problems to move around, I will need to go get my money and transportation, I have to take a plane but for now I need to walk.-

He spoke to himself, as if declaring his actions with a low voice reaffirmed his will. And so he left to explore again within the night, remembering, learning and experimenting again the city where he had lived and kept him while he slept. As the night advanced the streets started to get emptier and the sighting of people became fewer, he pulled a cigarette out and lighted it, he had the feeling that the calm of his walk was going to disappear, took a slow drag on the cigarette and kept walking.

He heard a hustle coming from an alley, a group of people seemed involved in a fight, he continued on his path without giving it much importance until he passed in front of them, by mere curiosity he wanted to see what was going on, a group five of thugs were attacking a couple of youngsters, one of them was lying on the floor curled in a ball and the girl was in front of what the mysterious walker thought was her boyfriend, bravely trying to protect him.

-Leave us alone! You already took our money. What the hell do you want?

-Just a bit of fun with you two, that’s all… You know? I’ve always had a morbid taste for the girl couples – said one of them while he licked his lips at the time he pulled a knife from his pants back pocket. Disgusted the girl tried to kick him in the groin but she couldn’t connect the hit, the other four grabbed her and got up the other person from the ground that happened to be another girl, they subdued them and started to hit them. The walker changed his way, slowly getting close to the turmoil.

-You know? I’m glad I found trash like you on my first night… just the type of people I hate.-

 The group directed their gaze to the man that talked from the sidewalk in front of the alley and who was approaching them with ease, he was giving a drag to his recently lighted cigarette and with taciturn expression he looked at them, the iris of his eyes seemed to glow under the light of the public lamppost with a yellow tone.

One of the attackers went to his encounter and without dealing words he tried to slit his throat, inexplicably the stranger didn’t suffer any injury even when he didn’t move from where he was standing.

-Ok, just because of that you are the lucky first winner… - a crackle started to sound while the man with the knife fell to his knees and screamed in pain, his hand was being grasped by the walker with an immense force that calmly crushed his bones, the terrified man tried to punch and get away desperately but the stranger remained immutable, impassive, he enjoyed his own cruelty, he kicked his victim on the stomach rendering him unconscious.

The rest of the thugs stepped back in fear and confusion, one of them got out a weapon and was nervously pointing at the man who kept getting closer, but opted to point at the girl they incapacitated earlier, due to the other still trying to defend themselves, she struggled and kicked, insulted and challenged them.

-If you get closer I’ll blow her head off! I don’t care who the shit you are but we will kill you and them later if you try anything!. – His voice was full of panic and doubt, he didn’t know what was going on and who the man in front of him was but he inspired a dread they have never felt before, the girl gave up when she saw her partner was being pointed at, she couldn’t see her get more injured, she was defenseless, only hoping for them to be able to go back home together, she closed her eyes begging for a miracle and there is when she fell to the floor. She heard several detonations, screams, hits against metal, broken glasses, fear, supplications and a strong smell of iron and rust… blood.

When she opened her eyes the stranger was backwards and in front of them, it looked like an explosion happened, the blood was everywhere, the bodies of the ones that attacked them where all over the alley and the fists of the man dripped blood, it was a shocking scene but still she managed to reincorporate and go beside her partner, they leaned on each other so they could get up and staggering a little they stood on their feet.

 -T-thanks… for helping us, I don’t know what would’ve happen next.

-You don’t have to thank me, it isn’t something I can control, sometimes the rage just acts, take care of your girlfriend… you are a very brave person, I’m glad to see that some things haven’t changed, like the courage of someone who loves someone else.

The young lady didn’t say anything else, she just stood staring at the face of who she wanted to protect and tried to take care of her, thanking that both still lived, and they inhaled deeply as if every breath was marvelous and a gift they didn’t expect to have.

-Be very careful, call for help… there are things worse than those guys during the night.