"The Watcher Meets The Witness"

~ Sinister Stories Part 1 of 3 ~

January winds are often the bringer of sin in places where the mercury refuses to climb. A nameless figure paced the empty platform, equally as likely to be waiting for a train as a friendly face. His scars carried countless stories, no doubt, that unique blend of triumph and tragedy that seems to be an intrinsic aspect of the human condition. He was tall, lean and out of place even as he stood alone. A quiet desperation filled his face as he huddled next to a partition in an effort to avoid the chill. Had I the ability to sense a foreboding atmosphere, I would have.

Checking his watch, the man reached into a pocket as if to assure himself that something lay within. The minutes ticked away with no sign of impending doom as stillness signaled a reprieve from the Arctic breeze. Suddenly, a shot rang out. The man I had been watching fell to the ground in a defensive reflex, reaching into his long coat and withdrawing a gun of matte metal. The weighty object gave him courage as he peered over a low row of barren, snow-clad bushes. Originally placed by a landscaper for aesthetic reasons, they now served as a form of cover from the hidden onslaught.

Muffled shouts came from a low hill nearby. Recognizing the voice, our man responded with a raspy yell. A light shone in the distance, just barely preceded by a whistle from an impending train. Several cars filled with various people who, in turn, were filled with various dreams and plans were fast approaching. Hastily forcing his weapon back into a secret space, our man popped up and flitted back to his original position. His expression told me that he was not expecting a crowd of company.

Unknowing visitors soon filled the area, forcing a pause to any would-be altercation. Raucous laughter from a group of law students rang through the night and served as a complete contrast to the unchecked aggression that only recently flew through the air. A girl with transfixing eyes and a coy smile stood out among the swarm of people. Arms crossed, the man waited as I held my abated breath, not daring to move for fear of giving away my position. As the jovial crowd trickled down the various nearby streets, the night once again offered up an eerie blend of quiet cold and dancing shadows.

His malicious intentions may have been unrecognized or else ignored by the late-night crowd filled with people warmed by whiskey and other spirits. I, however, was less easily duped. Sinister thoughts can be glimpsed through the eyes of such men when they are not aware of being watched. And I, the Watcher, knew what secrets and desires he held within his heart. His pulse quickened as shuffling steps could be heard by the knoll. He held his breath. Silently, I crept out from my vantage point and stunned this unwelcome intruder. Sharing was never my forte, you see, even in my current state.

Simply too much time and energy had been spent forcing this conniving character to succumb to my will and arrive at the meeting place. The ruse had worked; a drug habit creates great will for being such a crippling Achilles’ heel. The stranger will awake with a headache and a story. The man I had been watching, however, would not be so lucky. The Watcher, bringer of justice and peace, will once again prevail.