Late Finish

Late Finish

Her shift had finally finished, it had been a long day and an even longer night. And now with her feet aching her back hurting she had missed the last night bus home.

“Typical” she said to no one as she kicked an empty can into the road “If that twat had just let me go on time.”

She glanced at her watch, half four, she’d be lucky to get a taxi now as well. Pulling out her mobile, she sighed , it was dead, dead as dodo,

“Argh, Bloody phone, what’s the point.” She dropped the useless mobile back into her bag. There was nothing else for it she would have to start walking.

Pulling her thin jacket around her she set off into cool night air. The streets deserted she hummed in her head to distract herself from the cold, the loneliness and the hot pot on her foot which she was sure would soon be a blister.

Trudging along she became aware that she might not be alone, she wanted to look behind her. She told herself not to be silly, that no one was there, just fear, her fear. But walking on she felt sure she could hear footsteps, maybe even feel his breath on her neck. She shuddered and berated herself for her own stupidity and over active imagination. Rounding the corner she risked a glance over her shoulder, she couldn’t see anyone, but course that didn’t mean there wasn’t someone lurking in the shadows.

Whoosh a car sped past, through a dirty puddle as it did, now she was soaked as well.

“Idiot” she shrieked, not that it helped her feel any better. She carried on cold, wet, tired, miserable and a little scarred, could her night get any worse? She asked herself.

Bang, a bright flash lit up the night sky, as all the streetlights went out and the heavens opened. She could only guess that the crash and flash had been lightening striking the local substation, hence the lack of lights now. She quickened her pace, but it was pointless in this relentless rain, puddles forming fast, dirty water dripping off the buildings around her. She was soaking in seconds, she needed to get home and soon.

There were no buses, the taxi office was closed, or at least in total darkness. There was nothing else for it, she would have to do something she had not done in a long time, she would need to hitch a lift. She knew she shouldn’t, could hear her mother’s warnings in her head, words of wisdom, she should listen.

Quickening her pace she headed for the main road, stumbling on rubbish as she did.

Moaw, a cat leapt out of the shadows making her jump as it did.

“Bloody cats,” she didn’t mean it of course and as she said it she thought of her own dear cat, pudding, safely snuggled up at home waiting for her. His warm fur, ready to brush against her legs. His welcoming purr as he wrapped around her, pretending he was pleased to see her, when really he was just pleased she was here to feed him.

Reaching the main road she was pleased to see some car headlights, the bright lights a very welcome sight. She walked a little way, trying to pluck up the courage to hitch a lift, she was happier now, there were more people around, though looking at them she was not sure she was any safer. Pulling her jacket around her, smoothing her skirt down, she turned to look back along the road at the approaching traffic.

“Ouch, what the..” she screamed as her hair was pulled from behind, images dashed through her mind was she about to be attacked, dragged into  an alley and raped or murdered.

“Piss off bitch, this is my patch” came the rasping female voice from behind her, as her hair was released. She turned and a group of women had appeared from a shop doorway, she relised quickly that they were working girls, ladies of the night as her mother had called them.

Opening her mouth to speak, nothing came out, she gulped and tried again “Sorry, I finished work late, I was just going to thumb a lift, I’m not trying to move in on your patch, I’m not a “ she paused, what was the right word. “I’m a croupier, I work in the casino on Gallows street.”

The woman backed off muttering to the relative safety of the doorway, all but one.

“Sorry, it's been a slow night, you shouldn’t be down here on your own at this time of night it's not safe.” she smiled, her face looked fragile, child like even, how old was she? “If you walk up to the end of the road you should have more luck.”

“Thank you” quickly she scurried off towards away from the girls, cautiously peering into alleys and doorways she saw other girls huddled, tramps sleeping at their feet. Glancing down a side road she saw cars parked up, their dim internal lights lit, windows steamed up.

She had never noticed this aspect of the city, and suddenly she wanted to be home, home in the country with her family. The bright lights that had once enthralled her, were dirty now, cheap, tarnished somehow. The colourful paintwork, chipped and faded. Like that young woman's face, tired distant. That's when she made the decision, she was going to go home, back to the country, back to working in the local brewery.

A dim glow of an emergency exit light  lit a shop window, she caught sight of herself, and what a sorry sight she was. Soaked through to her underwear, wet clothes clinging to her skin, make up smudged and smeared, her hair ragged out after her altercation with the ladies of Horselydown Lane. She stood unable to take her eyes of the sorry image, a shiver ran down her spine.

She was so lost in her own thoughts, that she didn’t hear the car slowing behind her, the squeal of the wet brakes. It was only her shadow on the pavement that made her realise the car was behind her. Turning she was dazzled by the bright headlights in the darkness of the unlight road, she squinted was that a man getting out, no two men.

They were coming towards her, this was it, she felt her stomach tighten. Could she run? What in these heels. No she had no option, but to stand her ground. The two men were getting closer, situated by the lights.

“Are you okay?” one of the men said.

“What are you doing out here alone?” the other followed up with. Fear gripped her, rain running down her face obscuring her vision.

“Do you want to come and sit in the car?” said the first man, she hesitated, they were going to kidnap her drive her away. She took a step back, was against the shop window, she had no escape.

A crackle interrupted her thoughts, what was that. Of course it was a radio, she watched as one man lifted his hand to his shoulder, the other was at her side now, she could see better now, they were police officers, she was safe. Relief flooded through her has she stumbled into his outstretched arms. His colleague wrapped a blanket around her. She allowed the two men to lead her to the safety and warmth of their car.

*

It was the following afternoon waking up in her warm bed, pudding nibbling at her ear, that she switched on the television.

That street looked familiar, it was Horsleydown Lane, a young woman found dead this morning. A cold feeling ran through her, as she picked up the phone and dialed her mother’s number.

“Hi Mum, I’m thinking of moving back home” she sighed “If that’s okay”