Lost and Found, Chapter 1
The rain was coming down fast. Tiny droplets streaking down the sky to pattern the sidewalks. Too much to be considered a drizzle, but not enough to be considered a proper downpour. The clouds hid away the sun leaving everything just a bit darker, even in mid-day.
A perfect day for a walk.
Most people stayed inside, afraid of getting a bit wet, finding the dulled out look of the world depressing. For you though, it’s better. No need to wear sunglasses, no loud kids screaming through the complex, no joggers or dog walkers to watch out for.
Sure, half the time people would just forget how to drive properly, but today you had nowhere to go. No urgent errands to do, no places to be, no one to talk to.
So you walk to nowhere. Letting the excess energy out of your legs so you can spend the rest of the day vegetating on the couch. You could have done some chores instead like you usually do when it’s bright or hot out but…
Today is the perfect day for a walk.
Even though you’re a little wet that’s okay. You wore a jacket for a reason, it’s thick enough that the spattering of rain won’t soak through, just the same with your pants too.
It’s almost fun too, just getting a little wet, your hair damped down with water, the excess dripping down your nose. You always walk fast enough to work up a sweat anyway, and the rain isn’t that cold. As long as you watch for large puddles in the streets so no jackass can even think about soaking you proper, you don’t really worry about it.
When you get home you’ll toss your jacket in the dryer and take a nice warm shower before cocooning yourself away to watch Tv or something in the softest clothes you own. The perfect way to wind down after a nice long walk.
Today though, something feels a little… off.
Nothing is wrong, logically, but something feels different. Like the world just got tilted two degrees to the left and you’re only just realizing how crooked things are.
You look around, nothing seems off. The small pond water feature near your apartment is just as murky as always. The jets off center in the middle spraying away. The rain is breaking up the surface, preventing you from seeing the surface currents that always sectioned off the pond as water flowed in and out.
Looking down at the water nearest to you you can see the bottom. It’s about half a foot deep near the edges, and sometimes you can spot little fish darting around the brown algae ridden water. There aren’t any beer cans or bottles floating in it today.
As you look though you can’t help but notice something strange. Near the edge there is a sliver of water not being pelted by the rain. It ripples just fine but the droplets aren’t hitting the water.
And the spot moves with you as you walk.
It’s a bit further behind but is walking at the same pace as you. As you start to slow to stare perplexed at this weird patch of water it too slows to stop. Experimentally you back up a bit, it doesn’t follow. Nor does it follow when you walk a few steps forward again.
You walk close and stick your hand over the spot and find there just isn’t rain. Looking up there isn’t any god made holes in the clouds to save this little spot from getting wet and as you raise your hand-
You startle as it hits an umbrella out of nowhere. The sudden jostle sends a cascade of water off the plastic umbrella onto the ground, making you jump just a tad bit further away from the object and the person holding it.
They look… strangely familiar. Their hair is between brown and red, a thick pair of glasses adorn his face, and they look a mix between surprised and confused.
“Uh… sorry. I didn’t see you there?” It sounds more like a question than you intended. Glancing down you realize the patch of weird water really was just this guy's umbrella covering the water as he walked behind you.
But how had you not noticed him walking behind you? Why did he stop when you did?
And why hadn’t he said anything when you were acting like an idiot about the water?
Cringing a bit you turn, unsure what to say or do. He’s been silent this whole time. His slightly surprised expression gave way to pure curiosity.
Is that what a curious expression looks like? You can’t say for sure, reading faces has never really been your strong suite and… you can’t see his eyes. There’s this weird blue shine reflecting off his glasses completely obscuring his eyes. It’s like some weird anime scene and it’s not helping you decipher anything about this guy.
“Who-What-Are?-“ you have no idea what you’re trying to ask or even say. Shouldn’t you just walk away and hope that you both forget this ever happened. It’s so awkward and dumb but instead, “Are you okay?” You ask that instead. You don’t know why but it felt right to. That’s a normal thing to ask right? Like a weirdly intimate ‘How are you doing?’
That surprised expression is back for a moment before breaking out into a small but bright smile. “I’m doing pretty good today. Though it is a bit strange to go out in this weather, isn’t it?”
You make a face at him for a moment, confused, “You’re… out here too though. If you don’t like the rain why are you out here?”
“I could ask you the same, aren’t you worried you’ll catch a cold?”
His voice is nice, and slightly teasing. He sounds friendly, approachable, like someone you bumped into at the grocery store and are actually happy to see.
“I’ve never caught a cold in the rain. Besides, it’s just nice to walk in without all the people and the noise. It’s quieter these days…” your voice trails off and you aren’t sure why you’re telling him this. “Who are you anyway? I have this nagging feeling like I know you somewhere but I just can’t remember where.”
His expression drops immediately, he suddenly seems distant and you can’t help but feel bad, “Oh that’s not your fault. I’m quite forgettable. I’d be surprised if you recognized me.”
“Wait, do we actually know each other? Because if we do I’m sorry, that's
so not a you thing. I’m absolutely atrocious with names and faces. You actually seem really nice? For some reason? Who are you?”
He opens his mouth to say something but pauses, letting you catch a flash of fangs before he gives a bittersweet smile. “Just consider me a distant friend of sorts. Here, take my umbrella. You should get home.”
“What?” You say dumbly as he tries to hand off said umbrella to you.
“You may not worry about you catching something but I do. Besides, Lilith must be missing you something fierce all by herself. Why don’t you head back before the rain kicks up more?”
You take the umbrella without thinking, mumbling a quick “Ya, should prolly check on her,” as you start walking away.
Your dog always hated when you were gone, especially when you left on walks without her. You would have brought her but the rain always scared her. You’d just have to cuddle her a bit more when you got home to make up for your absence.
You have been gone for a while, about an… hour and a half according to your phone! You’ve gone for longer walks but you had just left the complex, the pond was only just on the edge of it and you couldn’t have been walking around it that long.
It doesn’t make sense, it takes less than five minute to walk to the pond and you weren’t there for that long, right?
Sighing you concede to yourself that it must’ve just been you tunnel visioning and losing track of the time. It’s happened before and it seems to be happening more frequently lately.
As you go to unlock your door you're confronted by a series of questions that you never thought you’d be asking.
Whose umbrella is this? When did you pick it up? And why did you not realize you were holding it till just now?