Her scream pierced the night like a siren, and all my senses stood to attention, the tiny hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. I stand, surveying quickly where the danger is coming from, I let my skin become more sensitive to the currents around me and spread my wings, I crouch, pushing the ball of my clawed foot against the very hard edge of the ledge of the 9th floor of my post. I kick off into the air, and let the wind catch, me and I begin to glide.
Circling the area, I could see nothing, not at first, but my eyes adjusted to the darkness in an alleyway, and there were two large human males – one petite female, obviously their victim. She was the one I'd heard scream. At first, I need to assess the situation, I need to see if they have any weaponry that might bring the woman to harm before I jump in all heroic – anything could go wrong and the wrong person could be shot. Seeing no weapons wielded, I decided it was time to reveal myself.
I give a piercing roar to the night sky, and I heard it echo along the empty street, and as I landed on the roof, I glanced down, I could see the two males clearly, my eyesight, becoming more keen as it adjusted looking at the criminals silhouettes – now I could see, one large overweight man, shaved head, tattoo of a spider on his neck, and the other slim, but tall, well built arms, with a black ponytail. I slipped into the shadows, silently, began to crawl down the side of the building, leading into alley.
"What the hell was that?!" demanded the man with the tattoo of the spider, he spun around, he and the other guy had the woman by the shoulders, pressed against the wall, the slim one had his hand pressed over the woman's mouth.
I could see the woman's tears pouring down her face, she looked terrified, her eyes wide and glassy.
"It sounded like some sort of animal…" The slim man replied.
I growled, hidden in the darkness they could not see me, they could only see the white flicker of my eyes as they became attuned to the blackness around us.
They did not look scared, not at first, but as I roared again, one of them let the woman's mouth go and she screamed again.
"Shut up!" the overweight one slapped her, and she cried out in pain, and sobbed pitifully, my anger got the better of me at this point, angry at myself for having not taken action instantly and letting her get hit by a man. I jumped out, lashing straight out for the overweight one, a punch to the stomach and a fast claw to the face, enough to scar, not enough to mutilate, and an elbow to the chest, he fell over, and then crawled out of the alley, picked himself up and ran.
The slim one, being younger, put up a fight – he hooked me in the face, I felt it but didn't make a fuss, I hit him back, square in the jaw, and dug my claws into his shoulder, hard, letting him feel the pain. The wound would in no way kill him, but he'd always bear those scars as well – and he'd bleed of course. He too, when I let him go, ran as fast as he could, escaping out into the night. I hoped this confrontation would perhaps make him and his companion think twice before ever trying to harm a woman again.
The woman, who had been once pinned to the wall, was now on the ground, lying in a puddle, in tears, and I stood silent, watching her. She had her face in her hands, her skirt was torn, her jacket had been ripped open, and all the buttons had pinged off, her hair was soaking from the puddle, and it was starting to rain, and she just lay there, helpless.
I knew not what to do.
Instincts told me I should pick her up, and try and get her home, or take her somewhere she could get help, the police station to report the attack, where she could get counselling as well or something. But I knew if I approached she'd more than likely scream, and the only one getting reported for attack…would be me.
I watched, she still continued to sob and I felt my heart growing cold, how could I just stand there and let her cry her eyes out when I knew I could get her out of there. What could I say? What could I do?
I sighed to myself, at the same time, it came out as more of an animal-like grunt, I winced at this, and the woman raised her head, tears streaming down her face. She couldn't see me hidden in the shadowed corner of the alley beside the trash cans and the old wooden crates from a nearby fruit shop.
"Hello?" she whispered, still sobbing, she tried to pull herself up but only fell back in the puddle, obviously still suffering from shock.
"Are you alright?" I finally asked, I tried to keep as clear a tone as possible – I did not want to give her any of idea of who – or more importantly what – I was.
"Who's there…?" she asked, she leaned up, glancing into the darkness, "I can't see you…don't hurt me, please."
"I didn't come to hurt you, I came to help you," I sighed, I had known she wouldn't understand.
"Then why are you hiding in the shadows?" She demanded as pushed back her dark hair from her face, "If I have nothing to fear, show yourself."
"Showing myself would only distress you more, Miss," I said humbly, and stepped back a little more in case any lighting should change and I should be subject to being revealed to her.
"After what I've just been through, I don't think anything else can distress me right now," the woman admitted, she sniffed, trying to wipe her tears.
"Are you alright?" I asked, I leaned against the wall watching her, there was something slightly familiar about her, yet I couldn't place it. "Do you need medical attention?"
"No…I'm fine, they just ripped my clothes, they didn't get too far…" she tried to stand and her legs seemed to be jelly-like, she simply fell back over.
"Maybe you should rest a moment," I suggested.
"Who are you…?" she demanded, ignoring my suggestion.
"I…am a friend," I ensured, "Just here to make sure you're alright…"
"Show yourself," she demanded.
"I don't want to scare you!" I cried at her, I thought she was insane, why couldn't she take my advice that this would distress her more? She didn't seem to be listening to me, she didn't know what I was, she didn't know I looked like a demon – she would scream, just like the others.
"Is it you?"
"What?" I asked incredulously, I folded my wings over my shoulders, still looking at her, she was looking at the darkness trying to locate where I actually was.
"That thing… on the building…there, night after night."
Now I knew who she was, she was the woman who loved in that building, she watched me night after night, and I knew she had been watching me. "You've…been watching me…" I trailed off, unsure of what to say.
"Then it is you?" She pulled herself up, a little stronger, "Show yourself, please…"
"No, close up I look more fearsome," I explained, "You should go home, you've had a rough night," I advised.
"Please…I have to see you."
I crouched down in the darkness, holding my head, why was she making this so hard for me? I knew what would happen, she would scream bloody murder, and draw attention to me, I'd be captured, or hurt, or my kind would be endangered. "Why…why must you see me…?" I enquired.
"Because you fascinate me."
I glanced at her again, I felt my pulse racing, usually my instincts let me know if there is imminent danger around – I felt none near this woman, I did not feel as if she were trying to lead me to danger. "Promise me you won't scream."
"I promise…" She trailed off, sounding unsure herself.
I waited another moment, I took a deep breath, and stepped forward slowly, first my foot came into the light, then my knee, and as I took another step forward, completely leaving the shadows, she looked at me, her eyes widening with alarm. I looked at her, keeping my distance.
"You…are you one of those Gargoyles?" She asked, her lip trembling, she was terrified, I could see it but she was trying her best to control it.
"Only on the outside," I stated, I crouched down a little, I could see my height and physical build were distressing her, at least if I crouched down I did not look so large, so terrifying, "how long have you been watching me?"
"Almost seven months now," the woman responded, she tucked her hair behind her ear, I looked at her, she was probably about the age of twenty-two, with brown hair streaked with gold, she wore thick black eyeliner accenting her dark green eyes. She was of slim petite build, fragile looking, like she might snap at a single touch.
I gazed up at the sky, it was beginning to grow lighter, I knew soon it'd be morning soon, "why are you out this early?" I asked.
"I worked a nightshift," she explained, "I work in a bar…" she was looking at me in awe, "What's your name?"
"It's unimportant, I should go now…" I did not want to be caught in the sun. "You should go home, try to forget about tonight's events…forget you met me."
She only looked at me, "but—"
I looked at her, "go…"
"But…"
"GO!!" I growled, anger welling up inside me, I knew I wanted to be with her, wanted to talk to her more, learn about her, let her learn about me, maybe make a real friend – but that fear inside of me still dwelled, dominant and stronger than any other feeling in me. I didn't know if I could trust her or not. I'd been waiting for the day I could approach her since I'd found out she'd been watching me, now, I didn't want to be near her, didn't want to bring her to harm and I didn't want to be betrayed again.
She looked at me, her eyes showed her confusion and rejection, she sighed, and turned, and left the alley, I sighed, and climbed up to the top of the building, and I watched her go into her building, and when she was out of sight completely, I took off for home, with a heavy heart.
