Tag! You're it!

That Fateful Night

    From her window Arlene could see the mountains. It was a warm summer but today she was spending it in her kitchen. She loved her cupcakes. She has done quite a few batches ever since she enrolled in that baking school down the road. She was quite surprised in the beginning to discover how engrossing it can be, to press the colorful icing bit by bit from it's tubes, in different patterns all around her little cakes. Definitely a different activity. A marked difference from her more usual past time.

    She wondered what would her friends think if they could see her now. It's been 2 weeks since the last time she saw any of them. 2 weeks since she joined the last wall spray. At 19, Arlene was in fact a pretty accomplished graffiti artist. A few walls in town here have her tag on it. The silver dragon on the wall of the brick fence behind the train station being her most latest work. If Johnny and the gang could see her now, would they think she's insane? A girl with pixie pink hair, painting cupcakes instead of walls. Yup.. definitely insane! 

    But she was almost caught by the police the last time. She had run for what seemed like ages, zig zagging streets and corners. Almost knocking over what she assumed to be a group of writers at the park bench who has been staring silently in concentration at the pieces of paper in font of them. Inviting hisses and curses at her direction as she stumbled among them. The police was obviously pissed off with her latest artwork on a public building. After that last incident, she decided to lay low for awhile. Well, that and also another reason. Also because of… him.    

    It was that same night where she saw him. She was taking a breather under the tree in the park., hiding among the bushes. She must've set there for a full 10 minutes before she heard a rustling sound from the branches above her head. She almost jumped when she saw a face between the branches looking down. She was still puzzling with confusion when the guy up in the tree just swung down and dropped right next to her feet . He was a tall fellow, with straight dark hair that he kept long to his neck. He had sharp features but what you would call delicate. Handsome nonetheless even with the air of meloncholy about him. His eyes was dark as he looked at her.

    "A bit late for someone like you to be out isn't it?" he said.

    For a moment Arlene couldn't say anything. She was still wondering what the heck was a guy doing in a tree at almost midnight.

    "A bit late for someone to be hanging in a tree as well" at last she managed.

    With that he gave a grin, almost lascivious. His eyes seems to gleamed. Or was it her imagination? He took a step closer. Arlene quickly jumped to her feet.

    "Actually yes it is a bit late, well I guess I must be going!" she added quickly and took a few steps backwards. He didn't pursue, but crossed his hands and leaned against the tree. 

He continued to watch her as Arlene started to back away. The midnight fog seemed to thicken.

    "See you Arlene." he said as she walked away. She walked quickly but stole a glance back but all she could see was the fog. The man, she thought, seemed to dissappear back into the land of dreams... or nightmares. In which case she didn't stay to find out.