[Jikanu]

It was a cold rainy night. Not your typical cold rainy night. There were no couples pushing together in a futile attempt to remain dry under one small flimsy umbrella. There were no businessmen running for cover with today’s newspaper held over their head in a lame excuse for protection against the hard rain. The streets were empty, the sidewalks were empty. Even the small light radiating from the random streetlamps seemed to have an emptiness to it.
The normal sounds of the city were not drowned out by the rain, they simply were not there. Only the steady sound of the rain falling on faded, cracked asphalt with the howling sounds of the wind bouncing off buildings and swirling around corners.
Somewhere in the dark empty night a dog rang out his lonely howl, breaking into the rain’s cold dark beat.
Suddenly a man darted out of an ally. He was tall and lanky, with a long trench coat on. The wind grabbed at the tails of the coat exposing in pants to the drenching rain. His feet made splashing sounds instead of the normal thudding sounds that are heard when someone runs down the street. Behind him, he heard the distinct noise and knew that they were still behind him.
He ducked down another ally, jumping over the garbage strewn about and came out on another street. He saw a distant light flashing three quick flashes and recognized it has his signal to safety. Yet, he knew that he would not find that safety tonight. They were too close to him and he would not lead them to her. Instinctively he turned and swiftly ran down another ally. He breathing was becoming labored and he knew that he had to lose them and do it fast or they would catch him.
He heard a shout behind him but dared not to turn and look for fear of what he might see. He picked up his pace and continued down another dark lonely street. After a few minutes, he no longer heard the sound of feet chasing him. He took a chance and slid into a doorway. He knew it was dangerous, but if he had lost them, he might still find serenity in this cold rain. He peered around the doorway and strained to hear any sounds. He saw and heard nothing but the emptiness of the never-ending rain. Slowly he made his way back towards the street where he saw his signal. As he drew close, he thought he heard a small shout. He stopped and listened harder, but could not place the sound.
He turned onto the same street he saw the three quick flashes and paused to scan the area. Nothing. He silently made his way to towards the ally where she would be waiting. He stepped into the ally and waited for her signal. Nothing. He called out as loud as he could without drawing too much attention to him. Nothing. He slowly made his way further into the dark ally struggling to make out any form in the ally. Nothing.
Behind him, he heard a sound scream into the night. He whirled around to watch as a car pulled up to the ally and one of the doors opened. He stared in horror as a limp body was thrown out of the car into the ally just a few yards away from his shoes. He made a gargling sound in his throat. A scream could not even find its way into the pain that encompassed him.
He picked her limp body up of the ground and cradled her to him. He dropped to his knees and rocked her back and forth while staring into her hollow eyes. Her blood ran with the rain soaking him. Through the rain, his tears mixed and dripped onto her face. He knew that everything he lived for was gone and that life had no meaning now. He stood, cradling her to him and started walking. He walked until the rain stopped and the sun started to make an appearance.
He stopped at the edge of the bridge and as the night fought the day, death fought with life. And as day won the never-ending battle, death won. He slowly climbed over the bridge and kissing her small cheek one last time, they both went over.