The Replacements

2. Night time walks

Chapter 2

Night time walks

They walked through the streets side by side, the only light coming from the bright moon overhead and the few street lamps that weren't burnt out. The silence that hung over them was a comfortable one broken only by the sound of a distant engine driving past. Nadia glanced around enjoying the quiet of the city at night. Essex was not a particularly small town, but not a very large one either with a population of 15,000. To get to it, you would have to go out of your way, unlike its namesake in Britain this was British Columbia Essex, a town surrounded by nothing but wilderness, the nearest town was almost 2 hours away. It wasn't that bad unless you wanted to go to a restaurant that wasn't one of the only 6 in town or order pizza.

Nadia's train of thought was ruined by Adler grabbing her hand and yanking her towards him slightly. She jumped slightly and look at him questioningly "wha-" Adler cut her off glaring at her sharply instantly shutting her up. He gestured in front of them, squinting slightly she saw someone leaning with their back to the wall some 15 feet in front of them tossing something into the air and then catching it repeatedly.

"Who is it, a druggie?" she whispered not taking her eyes off the figure.

"It's the man from the bar," Adler stared intently at the man who still hadn't noticed them, or, at least, hadn't made any acknowledgment of their presences yet. Nadia figured from the green hoodie and height that Adler was right. She didn't remember hearing him behind them and they'd taken the fastest shortcuts, there was no way in hell he'd gotten there before them.

Adler took a few steps forward keeping Nadia behind him slightly. She'd be damned before she would play the part of the damsel in distress, letting go of his hand she took a few steps forward. The stranger looked up at them as a car drove past, the headlights making his eyes appear to almost glow green like a cat's eyes reflecting light. Nadia and Adler slowed to a stop and watched the man from the bar as he pushed off the wall and faced them, hands by his sides. In his right hand, the object he was tossing glinted as the dim light hit it. The blade was the size of Nadia's forearm, and markings were carved into the dark curved blade. That was all she could make out in the dim lighting as the man took a step forwards.

"Do you two have any idea how hard you where to find?" he asked, his voice sounded sort of sing songish with a slight glide from high to low pitch, not a thick accent but just enough to sound foreign.

"I was unaware we were hiding," Nadia didn't remove her eyes from the strangers face, still half hidden behind his hood. He laughed and raised his free hand. Adler put his hands up and squared his feet as if expecting the man to run at him. Laughing again, he raised his hands slowly still holding the blade.

"Just trying to take off my hood mate."

"No wonder you two made it this long, you lot got spunk, I like that. Not sure how useful it'll be after this, though," he lowered his hands and twirled the blade slowly between his fingers.

"What are you going on about, how long have you been following us?" Nadia demanded taking a step towards him, Adler still hadn't said a word and was watching the man intently for any reason to strike.

"Not long, but now that I'm certain I won't have to follow you anymore," he gave a knowing grin.

"It'll make more sense once you come with me," His voice came from behind them, Adler and Nadia whirled around. There he sat atop a dumpster, the same blade, same hoodie and same smile that was getting more and more aggravating. He laughed at their confused faces and twirled the blade in his fingers.