Just a few more drops - Chapter 1

Its Cold.
A cold you hate. Humid and sharp, every part of your body exposed to the air its rigid, almost making it painful to move.
the worst part is your hands by far. You blame and curse yourself for constantly forgetting to get a pair of gloves whenever you could.
But right now that is not an option.
For starters its 3 in the morning, every store and place on the streets have metal shutters covering the entrance, like a security blanket over the whole city while the buildings sleep.
And second, but most importantly, you are currently broke.
You often told yourself that you preferred the night. The silence and loneliness that extended even on the most popular avenues brought you a peace you could never wish for on the day.
And, for the most part, that's true.
But you can never truly relax and be calm. You always had this unnerving feeling until you got home safe.
A dreadful feeling deep inside that told you that any moment now danger could just jump out to get you, and you were totally defenseless to stop it.
It was totally irrational mind you, fear by itself mostly is by nature. Besides you lived on the north side of the city, which often is viewed as the most secure, especially when compared to the central or south region.
But that didn't change the fact that every block you walked down, every time you looked back, you feared that from out of nowhere someone could appear, stalking you like a predator.
A part of you wished that you could learn to not have that feeling anymore, to learn to not fear. But, sadly…
You always considered yourself a coward.
And not only because you got scared or nervous easily, but because you never wanted to confront things upfront.
You evade eye contact, you lie constantly, you shut yourself in while in the day, and you never truly confront yourself to change.
Sure, you curse and kick yourself internally every day, but you do it with your eyes closed.
Either way, you were cold, and tired of it.
The only warm thing right now was the smoke you were having, but in exchange you get that putrid taste in your mouth.
It was a new bad habit of yours, but it helped get the edge off.
You walk down the flight of stairs from the small bridge crossing the train tracks, every step of the stairs uneven and worn down by time and abuse.
Thankfully the usual hobo that lives on the bridge isn't there today. He isnt bad but you never felt at ease around less fortunate people.
If it was because of pity or prejudice you can't truly decide.
You cross down the familiar streets until you get to the plaza near the station.
Throwing the cigarette to the nearest bin you continue on until you reach one of the edges of the plaza where there is a small bench that has a huge tree just behind it.
The treetop was enough to cover it completely, Giving it a nice shade by day and hiding it even more at night.
You let out a sigh of tiredness, you don't want to be here.
But you don't have much choice in the matter.
You sit down on the metal bench and you immediately feel uncomfortable. The design is not friendly to your back and the metal is freezing cold.
You look over to the sides, hoping you don't have to be here much longer, but unfortunately to your ass she is not here yet.
You look at your phone, 3:27 AM. You are not late, which is surprising from you.
Letting your head fall back you contemplate the treetop in silence, the minutes pass by and the cold slowly bites more into your face and hands, making it hard to meditate while waiting.
The minimal amount of sound is enough to make your head jump, looking over to see if she is here yet. But for the first 5 or so times nothing alive seems to appear in your vision.
That is until you suddenly feel something cover your eyes, its padded and warm, and along it a mock voice resonate just behind you
“Guess who dickhead?”
That was enough to make you almost jump out of the bench.
And to your dismay, your scare was just what she needed for a good laugh

“Whats wrong with you Lara?!”

The tall and slim jaguar just dismisses you with a simple gesture of her paw, still snickering to herself with a shit-eating grin you wished you could just punch out of her.
”Oh don't be such a wimp Anon. It's only a innocent greet between buddys”

“We are NOT buddys Lara. Cut the shit, i want to be home already”

The jaguar begins walking around the bench to approach you, her provoking grin still on her face, clearly she doesn't take you seriously.
”You are no fun Anon. You should just get laid to cool off.”
You frown, you’ll just have to endure her for a while longer it seems.
Without humoring her, you silently but abruptly get the package off from inside your jacket inner pocket. Reaching it out towards Lara.
The jaguar looks at it, and then stares back at you with a way more subdued smile. It seems she's willing to antagonize you no longer.
”Well, wasn't that easy? I knew I could count on you matey.”
She begins to reach her sharp paw towards the small cardboard box in your hand, but just before she can get it you pull it back, refusing her the package.

“I want to know what you need it for. And i want the money for my troubles”

The jaguar lets out a chuckle, her enjoyment of the situation just fueling more of your hatred for her.
”One, It's confidential honey. You already know that…”
with slow and meticulous steps she gets closer to you, making you back away a half step in response.
Soon the jaguar is face to face with you, tilting her head down slightly to look down at your eyes with an expression you can't quite decide is either patronizing or genuinely friendly.
”And second, you own me big time, no money this first time. So shut it and be thankful I even got you this gig.”

“Fuck off you--”

your witty response was cut short with a sudden sharp pain in your throat.
Before you could even react to it one of her paws reached up to your neck, choking you so hard you could feel her claws slowly piercing your skin.
What surprised you the most was the fact it seemed like it didn't take her effort at all to choke the living shit out of you.
”Now now, being a shithead won't get you anywhere Anon. So, let's try that again. Be a good boy and thank your buddy Lara.”
Part of you want to spit her in the face, you decide to listen to the reasonable part instead.

“T-thank…. You… Lara”

Instantly you feel the release of her claws in your throat, if that went on for a little longer you were sure you could have passed out… or worse.
You fall down on your knees, coughing out bloody murder while holding your mouth. You didn't even notice you didn't have the package in your hands any more.
”That's better matey. Now go home and wait for me to call you again. It won't be long until i'll need you again”
From where you are you look up at Lara, her shit eating grin once more taunting you.
Screw it, you already did your part. The sooner you can get her off your sight the better.
Without another word you stand up, take a last look at Lara and the box in her hands, close out your jacket from the incoming winter breeze coming over and turn around.
As you were leaving the plaza you could still hear her gloating voice from afar.
”Goodbye Anon. See you soon honey ♥”
Fuck this, fuck her and…
Goddamn fuck this cold!
Your path back home was everything but peaceful, your head spinning out with questions and thoughts.
Why you? Why at this hour? Why could you not simply glow a pair and confront her properly? She may be a Antho but it didn't meant she was untouchable, only annoyingly stronger and faster than you.
You wished you could just shoot her dead, but that was quite literally the worst thing you could do.
Liking it or not, you were forced to do this.
And ever since you got off home you could not take this awful feeling off you.
The feeling that something cold and unspeakable was breathing down your neck.
You feel it more intensely now than ever before, and with your instinct taking over your body for a second you abruptly look behind you.
Nothing, as usual. But for a moment you were sure something was there.
Something is watching you. Stalking you like prey.
You were either going crazy or your cowardice was getting the better of you.
Either way….
Why did she need... those?
It's time to go home.
It's too Cold.