He could feel it, he always could. That, and the vision which had lead him to this dainty spot in the cold wet of the night. They happened the same way, and he was getting more use to reading the subtlety of what followed. First the blinding light, then the images, then that sense, the feeling that lingered on more and more as he gave into it more and more with each passing night. That something, that subtle language that spoke to him through some weird kind of knowing. He just knew he was where he needed to be, and that something was about to kick off. That, and the images.

As Axel lit another cigarette, the rain kept on, bucketing down, heavy; the droplets collecting together in long drawn our streams, as if one could follow them along their route straight into the heavens themselves, and to the throne of whichever God or God’s were at work. The brim of his fedora gave just enough space to take a few drags of the cigarette before the rain let him know this wasn’t the time nor the place, but he hardly noticed, his attention fixed elsewhere. A few puffs was all he needed to calm the nerves, before the door opened.

Every night for the past month had been somewhat similar, yet there was something different tonight. That feeling, that subtle language was telling him something was different. He couldn’t put his finger on it, he rarely could, till the night had passed and the events came together bound by a single thread of synchronicity, an underlying something, that something that had culminated in everything that had come to pass in the weeks since it all started. She was closer than ever before, or at least, that’s what he imagined he felt was different.

As the door opened, Axel let the soggy cigarette loose by parting his lips and helping it along with a quick blow into the night’s tears, all the while fixated on the door. But, nothing. It closed quickly, without a clue to whom or what was behind it. He was waiting for this exact moment, and he felt it was right. But, nothing. No-one to place a face to the vision from earlier. No voice, no body. Just an empty dark space amidst a swinging door.

This was certainly not what he envisioned, or what he thought should come to pass. It was always different, though. Sometimes he would see a face. Sometimes an object that would later be on a person or relate to a place. Sometimes he would see things clearer, and other times he got just small pieces of the puzzle which he had to put together bit by bit, yet, they always came to be.

Axel stepped forward from the doorway he was situated in, out from the shadows and into the illumination of a street lamp. He was across the road from the establishment which had the words ‘The Citys Finest...’ on the window. This he had seen in his earlier vision, and no other shop or business or building in the area, or the city, had the same grammatically incorrect word on the window like that, like he had seen. He knew this much to be true and that the time was right, which he confirmed by a quick peak on the clock face of his pocket watch.

Something was wrong. He didn’t notice, but he was now visible, having stepped away from his sanctuary in the dark of the doorway. His mind was preoccupied, racing, rushing, with thoughts of whether he should go over and enter, or wait, or what if he missed something, this had never happened before, why tonight, is this what this feeling was all about? In his nervous neurotic fight or flight state he crept even further into the light. And then it happened.

The window of the building smashed open as a body flew through it, the lettering on the window now non-existent, in pieces on the ground. Axel felt like he jumped out of his skin for a second, completely taken by surprise, then quickly ducked down behind a car parked close to his side of the road. He watched on with great attention as three men exited the building through the door he was so fixated on moments before.

The body that came through the window earlier was now crawling, beaten and bloody, away from the men, or at least trying to. His right leg looked broken and dragged on behind him. It took no longer than a few seconds before guns were drawn and several bullets were emptied into the back of the injured man, the sound of those shots filling the streets yet kept somewhat local due to the night’s miserable mood.

Just as quickly as the scene unfolded was it over, and the men entered a car that screeched to a halt outside the premises, all the while Axel kept his head down as much as he could whilst looking on, trying to get a slither of something to make sense of it all, of why he had been drawn here, another piece to the puzzle he was supposed to unravel. All signs led to this moment, yet as the car sped off a sinking feeling in his gut accompanied the thought that maybe he had missed it.

As Axel came to grips with tonight’s events being over, he slumped back into a seated position up against the rear wheel and fender of the car he used as cover, dropping his head into his hands. Sarah’s blue eyes flashed inside his mind’s eye, accompanied with the warmth of a ray of sunshine, yet he couldn’t shake the feeling of guilt and that he had let her down.

Police sirens were starting to be heard, carried along on the night air from a distance, as the rain started to ease. Just as the late twenty’s out-of-towner felt all hope was lost, a hand reached out and touched Axel on the shoulder, accompanied with words that reignited his spark and forced him to look up with a very curious look.

“The city’s finest…”

The overlap of the building provided enough shelter from the rain, yet the chills circulated through her, like knives to her bones.  Camilla tugged the thick, wool coat together at the collar, cursing under her breath as the shivers threatened to be known.  She tightened her lips, so she wouldn't make a sound.  The empty alleyway beside 'The Citys Finest' was dark enough to conceal her presence, but sounds traveled all around, amplifying as the echoes surrounded her.

The rat-a-tat-tat of the rain on the dumpster thirty feet away, sounded as if she was standing right beside it.  It was grating on her nerves without a doubt.  Still, Don Slash needed to know how these bums handled a task, and for some stupid reason she willingly volunteered.  Had she known the weather would be this dreary, Cami would have volunteered Consigliere Bender, no fucking problem, yet her dedication and devotion to her bossman had her standing out in the rain, babysitting a bunch of wannabe gangsters.

They had one task, in and out, get the cash owed, pull the damn trigger on that bastard who snuffed the life of one of their own, and get the hell out of dodge.  She sighed softly to herself knowing things could go wrong, they often do when youngsters try to believe they are tougher than what they actually are.  In and out.  She shivered slightly as she tugged the coat sleeve up just enough to catch a glimpse of the time.

She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath, as she leaned back against the building.  Cami propped her black Oxford against the brick wall, crossing her arms at her waist, then blew out slowly the breath she had been holding.  Her eyes snapped open instantly, as if she sensed she was being watched, yet she was completely hidden.  Her blue eyes scanned the empty street finding nothing and no one.  Her gaze traveled back to the building beside the alley, the lights broken ensuring she was blanketed in darkness.

Her thoughts were racing as the anger tried to subside, hoping to find peace, find something resembling happiness, anything, something.  She hadn't let go yet of the pain she felt deep down.  He was no longer there, his face was but a memory quickly fading, as she desperately struggled to hold on.  Knowing she was moments away from witnessing his killer's death, the pain, the memories washed over her in waves, drowning her.

Four weeks have passed by now, yet it felt as if it just happened yesterday.  The gunshots soaring through the air right before he told Cami to get down to the ground.  The blood pouring from his lifeless body as she held him as the shooter yelled out for his gang to head out.  She had never forgotten that face.  Her blue eyes blazed with anger as she eased away from the wall, her hands clenching.  She had to admit she was glad to be here to witness the events.  A sweet smile of satisfaction spread over her face knowing she would stand over his filth ridden body, rotting, spilling his blood.

She was ready.  Wait.  What...  There was a slight movement across the street, a figure emerging from the alleyway, from the darkness.  No.  No. No! What the hell is someone doing here?  The timing was perfect, businesses closed, streets were deserted.  How can this be happening?  Cami didn't need another innocent life on her conscious, yet she couldn't move.  She couldn't see the person's face, or tell if a man or woman, just a dark figure moving about the dim lights.  Damn it all.  It was too late.  Things were in motion in the blink of an eye.  The loud crash of broken glass, shots fired. Her attention left the stranger's location then focused on watching that scum cry out in agony, attempting to crawl in escape.

Bang!  Bang!  Bang!  She felt her heart race with every shot fired.  The guys managed to take off without much delay.   Cami looked across the street, spying no sign of the stranger.  She eased from the darkness needing this closure as she headed towards the source of her pain.  His groans and whimpering agony made her smile.  Cami kicked his shoulder, forcing the scumbag to roll over on his bag.  She peered down into his face, blood pouring onto the street, his gasping for air, choking on his on blood.

"Remember me?  I know you do.  The look in your eyes tells me you do.  Rot in hell you bastard!"

The sirens in the distance, faintly echoed through the cold, wet night as Cami collected herself, adjusting her coat as she straightened up.  Blonde curls drenched, clinging to her cheek, as her eyes roamed across the street with curiosity, her footsteps taking her there before she realized she was moving.  She walked towards the alleyway, stopping mid step as a figure was hunched down by the car.  She knew no stray bullets flew in this direction, yet she could only imagine the terror of witnessing such a 'tragedy'.  

The sirens noticeably growing closer, yet far enough away Cami didn't panic.  She reached a gentle hand to the stranger, placing on his shoulder. Her soft spoken words, ironic somewhat of the situation that had just taken place.

"The city's finest..."

His troubled gaze focused on Camilla, and in that moment she felt a connection to this stranger.  As if he understood the deep pain she carried within her, she recognized it in his eyes as well.

"Indeed Signore.  You are all drenched, and shaken up.  We need to leave, I will explain everything.  Venire!  Venire!"

She held out a delicate hand hoping he would accept.  She was extremely curious to find out more about this stranger, who eyes spoke volumes.