The Cat and the Wolf's Shadow
Please no stealing or I will sue you :)...
The train was taking a long time; it was to dark out to see on the street to walk. My office wasn't exactly in the best part of the city, and working overtime to pay off the car repairs wasn't a good idea if this is what I have to do. The eeriness of the underground subway was sending chills down my spine; with the pitch black tunnels, cooing pigeons, the strange sounds, and the lone homeless black dog man sitting on the bench with me. He didn't look at me or ask for anything like the previous man outside the entrance to the subway did. This man here actually made me feel a little better, his presence was very comforting, aside from his appearance. "Um, excuse me? Do you know when the train will arrive?" I waited to see if he would respond or even react, he was so still. I gasped as he suddenly raised from his seat, and slowly towered over me. His coverings fell off of his body as he reached over me, I closed my eyes and right when I screamed, I felt something hit my lap. "Cats like you should have a safer way to travel. This subway takes a very long time, because the stop ahead is the last stop for the whole city's train circuit. So it takes the train a long time. That book should help you in the future in you insist on taking public transportation in this city." The black dog said in a gentle tone that was very careful with his words. I opened my eyes to see he was very good looking, for a dog, but he was a big dog. He was a little too big; he had no streaks or patterns on his coat. Even his head was a little different, it was sleeker. He held his head down, but I could have sworn his eyes were yellow. I was about to say something, but the train whistle blew from down the tunnel. I turned to see the headlight shine brightly in my eyes. "Ouch!" I rubbed my eyes, and turned away from the light so my eyes could focus. "Um, thank you, my name is Eliy." I extended my hand for a minute. I still couldn't see, but I heard his voice saying something. The train conductors voice saying they where departing was louder. I turned back to the train, got up and ran through the door with my blurred vision. By the time they focused the train was already in motion. I looked out the window, he was nowhere in sight. All that was there was the empty platform and pigeons.
The ride was interesting; the thing he dropped on my lap was a small hard cover book. It was as black as his coat, the spine was crimson red. The cover of book was very beautiful, I'm surprised he gave it to me. I opened it up and I was instantly hooked, it was full of hand drawings and poems. The sketches were professional and the poetry was so touching. It was a book of wonder, and I lost myself in it. In the last few pages, he had hand drawn maps and times of the city's bus, train, airlines, and on foot routes to different landmark. Some cut though buildings, which confused me. "How can you go through this building and it has no alleyways behind it?" It was very strange. I put the book in my bag after I memorized the times in it. I looked at my watch and tested it. When it came to my stop, it was right on the dot. I got out and went directly in my small studio. I got undressed and went to go check my emails. I opened my laptop to the home page and became curious to know if the times where just copied, because then I could return his book as an apology for screaming. I opened the subway schedules and they where completely different then what he had written. How did he know the times so perfectly? This book, the man, and a mystery, it was all too interesting. "I have to see him again!"
The next day at work I told my supervisor to get to the bus 20 minutes later then usual and informed him I would be doing some overtime work, so I will lock up. He did not like me telling him to do something off his normal routine and told me to shut up. He was an asshole, but he wasn't going to bother me, I was just hoping to see that man again. All I could do was think about what would happen, when I saw him. I finished my work a lot faster then usual; I revisited it from time to time while looking at the book the man gave me. I hadn't noticed it before, but there was a signature hidden in the sketches and poems. They all had "Zazu" in them, in some creative way. That was a very odd name for a dog..."a dog." He couldn't be a dog, he's too big, and his eye color...could he be a wolf? "HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! There is no way! Wolves in the city, in this city! Hahahahehehe..." Could it be possible? Did I actually meet a wolf, and live. They were known to kill on sight. I thought and it came to my intention of the danger of what I wanted to do. To find a homeless man, and find out if he is a dog or wolf. "Wait! That was not the reason at all; I wanted to say I'm sorry and return his book." I was starting to seriously question myself at this point. I found myself away from my desk and at the door to my office. I turned around and walked to my desk; I placed my hand on top of the book and landed on the poem that touched me last night. "To those who look at the world, and hope for a better tomorrow. Cry to your hearts content, for those tears will plant new trees and flowers. To create a new forest, a new hope, a new beautiful land. Rejoice, for the black cloud cast over the land is lifted. The blue sky and white clouds have returned, the sun is bright and shining upon you smiling face. You need no more tears now. See, cry and create, you have the power to create a new." I smiled, "It doesn't matter, if he's a dog or a wolf. He is beautiful on the inside; he isn't like what they say, if he is a wolf." I couldn't contain myself, I was beyond excited to see him now. I closed up the office with only his book in hand. My bag would be fine in the office over night, I had my keys in my coat pocket. I got to the entrance to the subway, I paid for my ticket and passed the homeless man that asked for help before. I thought of the poem, and pulled out some money. "Uh, excuse me, I hope this will help you. I'm sorry about yesterday, I shouldn't have judged you." The man stood up shaking and crying, thanking me and smiling wide. His face was so full of happiness, it was heart wrenching. He started telling me all about himself and how I gave him just enough to finally see his daughter in the next city, and how she was in the hospital. Taken away from him with no regard from his wife. We talked all the way to the bottom of the steps and past the ticket booth. He gave me a hug and left, jumping for joy, his tail wagging like crazy. "Does it feel good to plant new flowers?" I turned to see the dog sitting on the bench, perfectly still, just like last time. The crimson coverings over him, his body, like a warrior waiting for battle. "The flowers will bloom, and the black cloud will fade away." I replied to him. I saw a smile on the side of his face, my entire body smiled back.
I sat down next to the man, hoping to say what I wanted to say, but it was harder then I thought. I constantly looked up and down at him without saying a word. The book was pressed against my chest with my arms rapped around it. "You should stop that, your breast are falling out." I looked down and saw my bright pink nipples popping out. I dropped the book and fixed my shirt, he didn't watch me as I fixed it. Though I felt his eyes on me, they weren't scary or creepy. It seemed more protecting, or maybe on guard. I couldn't bear it anymore; I knew the train would come soon, "Um...hello, my name is--." "Eliy, right?" he said in his ever gentle voice. "Yes! I'm sorry, but I don't usually talk to men that much and you know how dogs and cats are. Hehehehe..." I felt so stupid, why was I spazing out and acting so stupid! "Well, I'm no dog. I am a well known shadow of this world. I didn't expect you to stay calm, so I won't tell you not to scream and run. Especially after yesterday's display of courage." The smile on his face made me blush, and all I did was puff up my cheeks and make a "Humph!" sound. He gently laughed and the train arrived. I turned to see the light and reached out to touch him, and all that I felt was air on my fingertips. "Don't disappear again, ok? Stay and watch me off?" I embraced the light and felt the cool wind and the light warmth of the headlight. "Eliy, I told you, I am nothing but a shadow of this world." I turned and he was gone, my heart ached as I entered the train. I felt so ashamed with myself, I couldn't even...the book!!! I looked out the window of the closing door, it was on the ground, with the pages blowing. I wanted to scream, but the door had closed. I hit the button and the door, but nothing. The train began to move and I started crying as hard as I could. "No more tears now...see...cry..." "...create a new." I said softly to myself. His words echoed so loudly in my ears. I got up and whipped the tears away and smiled. "I'll try again tomorrow!"