Shadows

It was a dark, cold night in London.

She got onto the tube at Mile End station, clutching onto her handbag as she walked down the carriage to an empty seat, she crossed her legs and unbuttoned her jacket, putting her bag on the empty seat beside her. Her big beady eyes scanned her surroundings, looking at each and every passenger on their late-night journeys from work. Her hair was tied up in a bun above her head and she wore one of those basic blue surgical masks that most people have at least one of nowadays.

He got onto the tube at Liverpool Street station, his arms freely swaying by each side, a rolled-up newspaper stuffed into his navy blue jacket pocket. He looked upon each passenger as he walked past and then decided to perch himself down in the seat opposite her a brief glance was shared between them before he decided to spread open his skinny legs and his tattered newspaper. Straight to the sports section, he went, scanning the pages lightly while occasionally checking out the women on the tube.

Every now and then, she would glance up at him, noticing his creepy stare. She began to sweat more than before. She had bigger things to worry about than this, but it sure didn't help. She adjusted her legs so they were tighter and pulled down her dress so it covered her knees. He sniffled and she noticed that his nose was hanging out of his mask, making him even worse of a person than he already seemed to be.

Her stop was coming up soon and she decided it was best to wait until the tube was stopped to get up so that he has less time to think of stalking her. The tube comes to a stop at Holborn station and she gets off quickly, leaving her bag behind. He watches her leave before noticing the bag on the chair and quickly making the decision to catch up with her. Grabbing her bag before jogging off the tube.

As she exited the station, she heard his yell from behind her, "Hey Lady!" She picked up her pace and glanced back to see him fast-walking towards her, his piercing eyes staring at her through the crowd. She breaks into a jog and he reciprocates, the jog becomes a run and in the space of a minute, he is chasing her through the dark streets of London, lit by the warm street lights.

He caught up with her after a short run, grabbing forcibly her by the arm. "You left your bag on the tube," he said while catching his breath. She noticed the handbag in his hand and instead of being filled with relief, she was filled with frightful shock and fear. He noticed her reaction and looked down at her handbag, it let out a high-pitched whine from something inside and let out an incendiary blast, blowing up the two apartments they stood between, the buildings crumbled in on the shadows left behind by the ashes of the two bodies. The man, trying to help a woman he'd creeped out. The woman trying to get away from the bomb she left on the London tube.

Soon the police would arrive and misconcieve the whole situation. And those passengers would think nothing of their late-night commute. They'll read the news the next day and spare a thought for those involved, never thinking it could've been them. And life goes on in London City.