Author's note: This is a story that appeared in my head a little after my alien spawns came into existence. They showed me this little tale and my fingers just followed.
All characters and creatures owned by me.
People go missing for many reasons. Many of these are young adults or children. In 2005 in the U.S over 60% of these missing persons were 20 or younger.
Jacket pulled tight against the frigid air and hands shoved deep in his pockets Alexander stalked down the streets of the urban jungle. The worn messenger bag that hung about his shoulders, safely tucked beneath the heavy coat, swished against his thigh with each step he took. The faded nylon and polyester creating a steady rythm against his denim jeans that accompanied each clopping step of his sneakers.
The noise was simple and the bounce of the bag had started to numb the spot on his thigh but it was constant and it offered, not comfort, but something to focus on. It lulled his mind enough to ignore the hum of traffic and the occasional murmur of people passing by. Enough to keep his mind from wandering to far in this direction or that and just leave him with enough perception not to walk out into the road.
Being hit by a car was the least of his concerns at the moment though.
The wind swirled about him, nipping angrily at his cheeks and what little of his neck was exposed, and forcing him to shiver. Winter never was his favorite time of the year. Even more so now as he trod along the bland slate and ash toned streets.
One would think with so many buildings that the wind would be broken and offer protection but all they served to do was channel the gusts down into razor wire sharp blasts that tore into a person despite the layers one could wear. He couldn't, more so wouldn't, go home though. What little home there was to begin with.
It would be a joy for his mom's new potential boyfriend. Not having to waste his time flexing or threatening Alexander. The boy swore his mom had an unnatural talent for picking the least appealing of alpha males and be so completely blinded by their facade that it left him dealing with the absolute shittiness of her choice.
He tried not to complain for her sake but by the time boyfriend number three came around with his leering and creepy smile Alex just had to say something. It still caused trouble though and now on option number four, he just couldn't handle it.
His mom would find someone alot easier while she lived in her dreamland and didn't have him to bring her back to reality. He was able enough to tend to that on his own and with little more than a note saying 'I love you' and wishing her well he had left.
To bad it had to be in the coldest months.
And it was getting dark.
With a sigh that sent his breath billowing up in his face Alexander lifted his gaze to truly take in his surroundings. It wasn't much though.
The variants on gray had been widened with some building faces a dirty brick and others almost a beige cropping up in between the scale of rock dove and grimy slate.
Windows were cracked and other boarded in places but the signs of disrepair were scattered and didn't make the whole area come off as a project.
Still is was worrisome.
Carefully the tawny haired boy made his way along the sidewalk. No others passed by at this point in the season and time and with the sparse street lamps kicking on a shudder from more than the weather ran down his spine.
Drawing his shoulders up against the unsettling flutter in his stomach Alex continued on.
A couple cars passed with their sad head lights starring always ahead, a group of smokers hung about a bar to feed their addiction for the last point in the night, a couple hung on each other's arms as they stumbled up the steps to a building. Little signs that humanity hadn't all but deserted the area even if they were few and far between.
Their appearance did not help to settle Alex though.
Most random company did not help a boy with his mindset though.
With his track record...
A street lamp flickered and drew his attention upward to the sputtering light, attention drawn by the faulty action alone and compulsion lifting his gaze without any true thought to it. In a split second though any light in his world was suffocated as a heavy material was draped about his eyes and a foul smelling cloth placed over his nose and mouth that prevented any would be screams from reaching the icy air.
But screaming was becoming less and less important as his mind began to fog and vision blurred and his body became heavy.
Then everything faded out and he was left in his dark world.
