Crooked

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

It was raining when I arrived at LaGuardia airport, taxis flooded from every street and tourists clustered. Lots of people crowded together like herds of sheep. It doesn't surprise me it is New York after all. Specifically, Brooklyn, it's a mega tourist trap. I look up at the sky, dark and cold, a breeze whips by spraying rain into my face. Fall, the bright but dark, the leaves turn to an array of different colors while the sky darkens and the weather becomes cold and bitter.

I never expected to leave my little hometown, but I needed a break of some kind, a change in scenery. New York might be just the change I need. The last few months have proven to be difficult to write anything. They say writer's block is just a sorry excuse for being lazy, but hopefully, this move can spark some inspiration. Besides, if it all goes to hell I can blame it on John. It was his idea to drag me here anyway. Quickly I pull out my phone, trying to shield it from the rain. Still no messages, it gives me anxiety to look at an empty screen. John hasn't messaged me since I boarded my flight. I suddenly feel alone in this overcrowded city.

Another cold breeze blows by and nips at my ears, I pop up the collar on my coat. Enough worrying, I have a busy day ahead of me. I begin to walk down the road with my luggage, pushing through the crowds of people that congregate just outside. Family and friends reuniting, soldiers from abroad coming back to welcoming parties, suites talking loudly into their cell phones. A wide diversity of people coming and going, I finally reach a small clearing by the road. I watch other people walk up to the busy street and simply outstretch a hand, almost immediately a taxi pulls up in front of them and offers its services.

I mimic the action, walking up to the very edge of the curb I outstretch my arm and wave it like a flag and just like that a taxi was pulling up in front of me. I motion for the man inside to pop the trunk and I stow away my damp luggage. Getting in the taxi there was a big difference between the air outside and the air inside the cab. The cab reeked of smoke, it's almost intoxicating, I cough loudly as I get situated in the stuffy cab.

"Sounds like you're getting a bad cough there mate." The cab driver turns around and looks at me, a yellow smile showing. He has a poorly shaved goatee, a hard and stern face but the laugh lines tell a different story. He wears a leather coat and a tan cap, it fits his appearance and accent well. He reminds me of an old Bulldog.

"Yeah, I guess I am," I reply softly.

"A shy guy huh? You must be new to town then ain't yah?"

"I suppose you could say that," I reply, the man's smile gets wider.

"Well it's one helluva city kid, it's tough to make it here, gets real depressing." The man's smile disappears, becoming grim.

I watch him turn around and slowly pull the cab onto the main road. Heading down 94th street. Rolling down the busy street, cars and pedestrians pass by in a blur, the cab slows down as we hit mid-morning traffic.

"So kid I didn't ask, where yah heading?" The cab driver asks in a gruff tone.

"Oh um.." Reaching into my wet pockets I search for and pull out a crumpled ball of paper. I had written down the address in pencil. The graphite lines were faded and worn from being in my pocket.

"Maple Street, 221 Maple Street," I answer, hoping I hadn't accidentally written down the wrong address. Slowly traffic breaks up and the scenery begins to blend in again, becoming a collage of colors. The rain had stopped, letting the sun peek out between clouds now and then, turning them a vibrant orange and red.

I lean my head against the window of the cab, the glass cold. My eyes slowly become droopy as I stare absently out the window, I'm so exhausted. We hit a red light again and the cab slows, which is becoming annoying I might add. Looking out the window we've stopped near a hot dog stand, some pedestrians walking about. And there's an alley.

The sun is bright now, but the alley is dark and cold looking. It almost seems like it repels the sun's light. As I look more intently out the window, the alley has captured my attention. There seems to be a darker area in the alley, in the shape of a human's silhouette. The shadow moves slightly, exposing some of itself to the light. A smile is all that's visible. A deep, devious smile, almost crooked looking. I blink.

It's gone. I mean not just the man, the alley. It's gone. A whole alley was just gone. I blink again, nothing changes. The hot dog stand is still present, one man stands near it now arguing with the owner of the cart. A hot dog lays on the wet ground near the man's feet.

But the alley is gone.

"Sir, did you see that alley? The one that was just over there?" I ask, pointing behind us.

He turns to look "Alley? No, there's never been an alley there. You're tired kid, get some sleep." He replies in an annoyed tone.

With that, he shuts the small glass door dividing the two of us. Maybe he's right, yes he's right. I must have jet lag from the trip. I lean more onto the cold window, and without trouble, I fall into the depths of slumber and travel to the land of dreams.