Flower in the rain

Telfima, The city that never sleeps. The streets buzzed with the sound of vehicles wooshing through the roads and the horns of cars stuck in traffic....the laughter of crowd and the loud noises from late night clubs. It was nearing midnight....Rain was falling and casting a haze over the bright neon lights emitting from the city.
The "Hanger's moore", a bar in the most shady alleys of the town was now playing host to him, the third hand of a Triad branch. Mr. Shai Lon. He was sipping his wine and staring unseeingly at the rain falling outside.
And there she was, walking in, wearing a taunting red dress and red stilletos to match....those long eyelashes that would blink every once in a while as she tilted her head this way and that to take in the surroundings. her black eyes only reflecting the hollow darkness inside. She spoke and the barman only noticed her red lips move. He gulped. She smiled.....somehow, that didn't seem to reach her eyes. She spoke again...Still the barman only gaped at her.
" A midnight blue for the lady." He spoke, breaking through the enchantment and the barman turned red.
" Right away sir, and you too ma'am."
She smiled and looked at him.
" Thanks for that." She said.
As a response, Lon only took off his hat and nodded.
" Shai Lon." He said, offering his hand.
Taking it, the girl responded,
" Daphne May'n."
" Daphne...." Lon said, giving a little peck on the wrist. " Its a beautiful name...Some what Naustalgic."
While they talked, the barman kept refilling their empty glasses.
And then it played.....that song that always taunted her one desire, that she had buried deep somewhere...at that point in time, both her, and Lon were lost in reveries far too deep to say anything....
" Late coming..."
She whispered.
" I'm sorry?" said Lon, starting.
" Its a very dear song." Said Daphne.
" Waiting to be taken back....I see..." He said, bitterly smiling. " Me too."
Daphne stared at him. He apologised for being so vague and said,
" I've waited a long time for someone to come show me a way back too." He smiled.
Daphne traced a finger around the rim of the half finished martini.
" Its different for me." She said, and Lon noticed the flicker of the candle light in her eyes and the hilt of a dagger and a gun in her belt.. " I've lost that thread that leads back a long long time ago."
She got up from the stool and leaving a few gold coins at the table, disappeared in the rain.
" A fallen star eh?" He smiled to himself, " Would that make me a demon myself?"
The phone buzzed and he picked it up.
"I'll be there in a few minutes." He said shortly, and stood up. He gave one last look at the guy playing the saxophone and left the bar and the soft "chime" of glasses behind as he shut the door behind him.
The rain fell on his face strong and cold. But he felt nothing but calmness. His life has been bordering on illusions far too long.. this rain was like drug that kept his sense intact....A reminder that he was still a human and alive...
" Daphne..." He muttered again.
***

A line of light was now in the horizon, indicating the soon approaching daytime. Somehow though, for the few people down at the harbor, it seemed daylight was too far away. The triads were in the conclusionary war by the warehouses. The two remaining leaders were having a death match.
" Its too bad we're meeting like this." Lon said, His back against a pillar, taking cover from any bullets that may come to claim his life.
" Yes, too bad." Replied Daphne, from the other side of the gunning. " I would've enjoyed another chat in that bar."
Bodies lay scattered here and there.
Lon chuckled at the only bullet left in his gun. Daphne was all out. The two got out from there cover and walked towards each other.
" I wish I didn't have to do this." He said softly to himself as he pulled the trigger, His eyes fixated on her face. At the same time, the dagger ran sharp and deep in his gut, tearing up his insides...It didn't matter...."Damn her, she looks beautiful even when in a messy state like this."
" Just another glass of maritini over a casual talk in that bar....." She whispered to herself, as the bullet struck her,right in her heart. " I'd....have really liked that."
Both fell down and stared at the celling of the old and wanning warehouse by the harbor. There was a wall that was only partly destroyed....the two of them propped themselves onto either sides...
" Hey," Daphne asked him, breathing shallowly, " What are you thinking right now?"
Lon gave a small snort that caused him a great deal of pain and replied " My Fiancee... When she was alive, I often thought she was an angel...They killed her right in front of me...I could do nothing to save her......And then in search of revenge, here I am...so many years later. I killed the man who took her away from me...and it didn't make the hurt any less...And before I knew it, I turned out to be the exact same thing that took her life.I'm thinking....whether I'll get to see her on the other side?..."
It was Daphne's turn to laugh.
" You think you'll end up in heaven after all this?" She choltered. " Nope, you're going to end up in hell..Just like me."
" That wouldn't be too bad either." Lon said, smiling to himself.
" Quite a nice place for a humor." Said Daphne.
" Well, what are you thinking about?" He asked her.
Daphne looked up at the sky....it had finally stopped....the rain...the clouds had parted a little for sunshine to pass through to show daytime...
" I'm thinking....It would be nice...if..I could go home one last time...and taste mum's cooking...."
vison had started to blur.......
"Look," She said...."I can see it...that mud damp road leading to the house in the hills....those blueberry bushes...and the smell of honey suckles in the air...I'll open the door...and everybody'll be there...waiting....for...me....."
Her hand stretched out in a vain attempt to open an imaginary door....and then fell limply on her side as her head wobbled and she fell sideways on the ground..
Lon lit himself a cigaratte and leaned onto the wall more comfortably.
" Emotional Bitch!"He cursed her, dismally thinking about what she had just made him feel.
"Man, its been a really long day..." He sighed..." I'm so tired." He closed his eyes...The cigaratte burnt on and on till it finally withered into cinders.
Soon the surrounding area was filled with the sound of Police cars and many noises...but those two were finally away from all the little worries....They were finally over the nightmare after all.....now all that was left, was serene sleep and sweet dreams.....





~Fins~