21You are going for an average walk with your dog down an average street, but there is a puzzling wonder in the back of your mind. The billowing clouds and faint, trailing wind seems to be awaiting an unknown occurrence. You noticed when looking, there is no other sign of life anywhere in eye or earshot. The homes and shops are all completely deserted. The usual traffic infested intersection up ahead is devoid of all signs of life. Almost as if the town's people were obliterated by some cataclysmic event that failed to tear down the buildings or warp the roads.
Strangely, your dog begins to shiver and whines piteously. You try to walk forward, but your dog is rooted to the sidewalk. With an apathetic sigh, you glance down the street with false hope of seeing someone who can help you. Yet, to your utter surprise, a girl whom you hadn't noticed before is strolling nonchalantly down the block towards you and appears as if she was there the whole time. The female is a good distance away, but some aspect about her awakens your primitive ability to sense impending danger. The innate twinge warns you that there is something wrong here...
As if suddenly falling into a submissive slumber where you stand, you are shocked to find that your mind's eye is now faintly flashing images; first- there is a petite wide-eyed girl clutching a plump, black pearl eyed teddy bear, then a man, knuckles whitening as he tightens his grip on a shimmering knife, ominously poising it over the little girl's head. As the girl in reality draws closer, these images sharpen and change with swift precision. Now you see a teenager outside of a flame glazed house, her mouth fixed in an eternal scream. Next-a young woman, positioned gravely, head bowed in front of a marvelously kempt tombstone. Following this, treading in your mind is an image of what could have been a city, but is now a blazing inferno of twisted steel and wood. Soon, again with no warning, a vision drenched in darkness flashes through your now terrified and boggled mind. You come to realize you're seeing memories; a sinister and aching past that possibly resembles a hell far worse than that experienced on a ship taking you, lonely, to a merciless life of slavery.
The girl down the block is mere meters away. You peer into her blue-gray eyes, and there, you find experienced emotions you yourself might never know-love, pain... and wakeful wisdom beyond years. As she passes, sparing you but a flick of her long, tawny hair, your dog nearly dies of fright. With a racing heart and a dog tugging with fierce urgency, you chance a glance over your shoulder when the girl has passed.
But there is nothing save a cold, synthetic road.
/ Granite Claws