• .....This city...is full of beasts
    Beasts who hunger for the flesh of their own, who sate their inhuman appetites for lust and violence on a daily basis. Fiends prowl the streets, seeking out the humans who have yet to turn to beasts, seeking to infect them as well with the virus that already as most of the city eating crumbs and dirt from the hand of the greater demons that rule the city.
    Where is the city's protectors?
    *chuckles* they left long ago. The protectors of this city, who were ironically enough chosen by the people themselves, are all but gone, rotting away in the castles from which the suffering of the people paid the price for, indulging themselves in the very same urges now that the demons in the alleyways and slumps devote themselves to nightly.
    *chuckles* personally, I think its ungodly ironic
    This place...this town....this CITY...its damned, I know this. There is no hope for it. She's a whore who has been used up and thrown to the side, her once beautiful face torn and mangle from the sins she has had to commit in the name others.
    And she's dieing a slow agonizing death, from which theres no relief.
    This city is damn...

    Lighting flashes and the thunder roars as I return from the realm of my thoughts to world of conscience. The storm over head rumbles loudly as it courses and swells, like a great beast in the skies. Rain like slow and steady tears fall from the black clouds, glistening in the light, like a tiny newborn diamond, before being shattered upon the pavement walk way below. The sounds of the city rise up to meet the thundering above. The drum of footsteps of people rushing to their destinations. The constant humming of steel engines as cars glide across the rain stained roads. The echoes resounding from various luminescent buildings. These sounds rise up and meet the thundering in the sky, and like to great warring armies, the battle to see who's voice shall be heard.
    From atop the building, I watch as mindless ramble scurry to their places of being, seeking to escape the rain the covers the landscape. Personally I welcome the rain. Its the one thing that redeems the city, for it feels like for at least a moment or two in time, the sins committed here are allowed to be washed away and the city is clean again. But the moment of serenity won't last long, for this city is ever flowing with the slug that even the rain cannot wash away. I shake my head, rain scattering from the brim of my leather hat. I turn, my black trench coat conforming to my every step. My footsteps splash as I make my way across the dark roof top to the metal fire escape. The metal groans and moans I slowly make my way down to the bleak alleyway
    below.
    There is a dull thud as I jump from the ladder to the ground above. The minor shock blitzes through my legs and up my spine, making the cold blood rush through my veins at a slight quicken pace. As I stand up, I throw my neck to the side, causing the bones to pop loudly. Wincing and letting a dull groan escape my lips I start my journey down the alleyway, the rain echoing louder in the small confines space. Small animals scurry this way and that as I tread through the darkness, their angry chattering letting me know they were not happy with my visitation.
    As the light from the street grows strong, a group of silhouetted figures comes into my range of vision. Four men, dress like grubby street urchins, all rejects from even this pitiful society. They are all laughing and joking with one another, making crude jokes that would send the others into a riot of laughter. As I approach closer, I spot a young woman in the center of the group. She is fairly young, but attractive, her clothing being the prim indicator of her career chose. No, not heres, I find myself thinking. This city of demons gives you no choice. You do what must be done.
    My footsteps slow as the group of men and the woman began to bricker. obviously over business. The young men's smiles become more lustful and hunger as the group begins to close around the woman. Though a small woman, she stands her ground defiant.
    Suddenly one of the young men reaches down and gropes the womans but. In the flash of lighting following I watch as the woman whirls around and delivers a hook, not a slap, to the man's face. The man falls back a couple steps, glaring board swords at the young woman. The group instantly is upon the woman, jumping as one to restrain, Finally realizing the woman falls back against the wall of the alley.
    I leap forward, purging the distant between me and the group in seconds, my trench coat flowing like demonic wings behind me. The alley echoes with the pounding of my footfalls, but the men seem so preoccupied with the woman that they seem unaware and or they were down right ignoring them. Typical ,I think in the rush.
    The first one I reach is a man of medium height and stature. I grab the back of his head in my hand, not giving him time to make a sound, I rock him back and launch straight in the back of the man standing in front of him. Being of the same height it would seem, the medium man's face slams into the back of the skull of the man standing in front of him. There is a thud and a crack of bone as the medium man's nose sunk into the crevice of his face, and he slowing slide to the ground. The man in front of him, A man of similar height yet much wider than the medium man whirls around holding the back of his head, and a look of bewilderment on his face.
    I jump, using the momentum of my run to send me into a pounce and as I sail toward him my fist connects with one his chubby cheeks. He staggers back, and as another of my punches connects with his temple, his wide form slumps against the wall and slowly slides down to his fallen companion's.
    I turn to see them turn towards to me, the eyes full of surprise mixing with loathing. As the one in front of the woman, a muscular man much taller than the rest of the group, inches toward me, the man who had gotten punch, the eye already starting to swell I noted with a chuckle, slide a concealed knife from his jacket pocket. I stood and face them, my face hidden from view under the brim of my hat.
    The muscular man launches toward me, his fist flying from his long arm. I dodge to the side, grabbing the mans arm in one fluid motion.
    Time slows for me, the rain is caught in the sky, the twinkling diamonds of moisture glinting like starlights in the bleak hell of the alleyway. The look of the two men are frozen in the eternity of my serenity, their hate and loathing lost in the flow. The woman, though clad as a sinner and a look of fear in her eyes, looks as beautiful and innocent as she would have been had she been born outside this carcass of a town. The lights from outside stream in, almost seeming like the light seeking to dispel the darkness from this tiny section of the
    world.
    Moving in the flow of endless time, I bend the mans arm, hearing each section of bone pop and snap. Lifting my other arm up, bending it so the elbow faces the expose joint of the man's arm. As I lingeringly as most grudgingly in the peace of serenity, I bring my elbow down.
    The roar of thunder accompanies the man's wail of pain as suddenly time flows again. I drop the man's arm and he cradles it as if he let it go someone would rip it from the socket.
    The man's companion suddenly drops his knife, the accompanying echo of metal against concert mixing with the muscular man's pitiful sobs. As he backs slowly out of the alley I reach down and grab his companion by the scruff of his neck. Lugging him forward I toss him unceremoniously to the ground in front of his partner. Kicking my head to the side, I indicate for them to leave. Scrambling to lift up his friend, the two limp as quickly as the can to the street outside, curses and whimpers of pain all that the leave behind.
    I turn to the woman, still press up against the wall. She's looking at me,much like a mouse would when being approach by a cat that had just a fight of who eat her. I smile under the brim of my hat and think to myself, smart girl. I turn for her and go to the two man still unconscious on the ground. Bending down and ruffling through there pockets, I relieve them of what little money they had. Than returning to the woman, I extend my hand indicating to take the cash.
    She looks at me skeptically for a moment and takes the from me. She eyes me, not understanding what to make of the turn of events.
    I look her over, remember the sight of her as she would have been if she had be born anywhere but here.
    "Get out of here" I finally say over the drum of the storm. "Take that money and the outta of this city." Than tipping my hat to her, I turn and make my way to the street. Right as I exit the alley way, into the bright lights of the city, I can hear a faint whisper of "thank you" just above the rain, and than a splashing of footsteps.
    I turn my face to the storm, feeling the rain drops drip down my face, their cleansing bliss soaking through to my core.
    This city is damn and full of demons, I think to myself as I make my way up the street. But I suppose, this is my home and I am one of them too.
    And over head a crack of thunder and brilliant flash of light accompany the thought into the dark oblivion.