Sinister Moon

It was 5pm in a town where the shops closed up with the sun. Street lights were flickering on and cars were pouring into the little town, heading home to their families. It was as though closing time applied not only to the shops, but the entire town. But as most people rushed home from work to a loving embrace, dinner on the table and a comfortable bed, others crept out. In this small town, there were only four or five, maybe six of them. None of them over the age of 20 and most of them under 18.


Brian King was the first to emerge, creeping out of a back alley and leaning against the wall of the general store. He dug into a pocket, fished out a battered pack of cigarettes and a dented silver petrol lighter. The snick of the flint broke the silence and the momentary burst of flame lit Brian's face, his dark eyes glowing red for a moment, shadowy stubble becoming visible. Then the flame faded to a glowing ember and the darkness was almost complete again.


Brian was the oldest at 20 years old. One only had to look at him in decent light to see why he no longer lived at home. His face alone was covered in scars and bruises that refused to fade. He'd left home six months after turning 18 and had been on the streets since. He was the oldest and always the first to emerge. He was like a signal. When he appeared, the others knew it was safe to join him.


The next to appear was a dark haired girl of 18 years old. Her name was Charly and she'd been 18 for just 2 weeks. She'd been away from home that same amount of time. Brian had found her quickly and taken her under his wing, protective.


Charly stayed in the shadows for a moment or two, making sure it was Brian standing over there, almost invisible but for the glow of the cigarette. Then he called out to her.

“It's safe, Charlotte. Come out.”


Another brief glance around her, then Charly swept a hand through her hair and shot out of hiding towards him.


“Hi.”


“Where are the others?”


She shrugged.


“I haven't seen them today.” She was chewing her lip, anxious and Brian smiled.


“Don't look so worried.”


“I've seen the cops about five times today, Brian. And Benji had that stuff yesterday...”


Brian sighed and dropped the cigarette end, grinding it into the tarmac with the heel of his boots.


“Benji's an idiot.” He growled, shoving his hands into his jacket pockets.


Charly looked uneasy.


“I still don't want him getting caught. Help me look for them, Brian.”


“I don't know why you care. You've only know them for two weeks.”


Charly looked up at him, dark honey eyes shining with hurt.


“Fine.” She murmured. “I'll go alone.”


She turned away from him and ran off, small lithe figure disappearing into the oppression of the night. Brian sighed.


***


Charly pulled her jacket closer around her as she walked swiftly away from Brian, already shivering. It was a bitterly cold night, but that was to be expected in November. Still, Charly hadn't really had the time to prepare for it, nor had she had the chance to fix the problem. Brian had told her to stay out of the shops in town if she wanted to stay here. Too many people knew her. Hell, even he'd known her by name. So as Charly walked past the dark windows of the camping outlet she sighed, shivering and gazed in longingly.


The next town along, Larkwood, was bigger and Charly knew the shops would still be open. Larger, better supplied and cheaper shops. But Larkwood was at least two hours walk away from this town in the middle of nowhere and it was too cold. She'd have to wait until the group as a whole decided to head over there. At least then she wouldn't lose her way coming back.


Charly stopped, staring at her silhouette in the dark window. This town was nothing. She had to hide away everyday for fear of someone recognising her. She found herself babysitting a bunch of teen runaways every night, terrified that they'd get themselves arrested if she didn't. She was starving, scraping by on the things Brian pulled together and shared between them all. She was freezing.

There was a long squeal of metal and then the blowing of a horn.  Charly looked up and realized that she'd walked down to where the train tracks ran through the town.  A long beam of light shone in front of the dark train as it came towards her out of the darkness.  Moving slowly as it passed close to the ramshackle houses that clustered around the tracks from a bygone area, the lumbering train began to pass in front of Charly, its ponderous wheels kicking up occasional sparks and squeals as it turned slightly.

The train.  It went to Larkwood from here.  She wouldn't be the first to stow away in one of its mostly empty cars.  And so, in the space of about five seconds, Charly Keene decided to leave her home town and set off towards Larkwood. If only to buy some warmer clothes.