I wore my jacket zipped up, walking absently down the street, keeping the lower half of my face bundled in my scarf. I didn't have a destination in mind. I was just out for a walk in the invigorating weather.
Invigorating but cold. I pulled my beanie down a little better over my ears, glancing into the window of the library. It had been a long time since I was there. I used to love the library. Internet access. Books everywhere. A nice quiet atmosphere. I stared into the window and smiled into my scarf.
Moving along, I pulled out my phone and glanced at the time. Saturday. 3:15. Casting my eyes up to the sky, there was nothing but clouds. It would snow soon. And it was already getting a bit dark. But I had nowhere to be. Plenty of time to crunch more leaves. Slipping my phone back into my inner jacket pocket, I continued ambling down the street.
*****
The leaves on the ground were browning, but the leaves left in the trees were orange and red and yellow. God I loved fall. And I used to walk all the time. I didn't feel like walking most of the time after work, but I had a little bit of time off, so I enjoyed it while I could, wandering aimlessly.
I first saw her from the corner of my eye, the Sonja Blue clone. Raven dark hair, dark mascara, lipstick, and too much eyeliner. Her left eye had a sickly green look to it, as if she had a healing bruise. Looking closer, I saw ripped jeans and a baggie hoodie. And... Was that a streak of red hair poking out of her hood, mixed with the black?