In the rain, the pavement shined like silver. Wasn't that how the song went? The lyrics ran through Noll's mind as he paced the streets. But there was no romanticising this rain.

It raced to the ground in an attempt to drown everyone caught in it.

The perfect pathetic fallacy.

The sound of the raindrops hitting his umbrella had merged into one continuous note, interrupted only by the sound of his phone ringing.

He ducked into an alley to answer it.

"Naru? You there? What did they say?" his wife said.

"They didn't accept our offer," Noll said.

"What? Why? Did someone else offer more?" Mai sounded almost incredulous.

"No, another couple offered the same amount," Noll told her. "But they are older and thus considered more financially stable."

"That is ridiculous."

Noll didn't say anything, he didn't need to. Mai would know he agreed.

"The estate agents gave me a new pile of potential houses."

"I swear we have looked at every house in Tokyo," Mai muttered.

"The first one looks like a similar setup to the one we viewed two weeks ago, but it's further out," Noll said, recounting the details.

"Are the local schools good?"

"I would have to do further research," Noll admitted. He shuffled his feet. "We will find somewhere."

"I know," Mai replied. But Noll could hear the hint of tiredness in her voice. He felt it too. Considering their good financial position, it was taking them a long time to buy a house.

"Perhaps for the next one, I will take the money in in cash," Noll said. Mai laughed and he relaxed.

"Don't be ridiculous." But she giggled nonetheless.

"Or pin them against the wall with PK," Noll continued.

"Now that really is-"

But a crashing sound cut her off.

"Mai? What was that?" Noll demanded.

"Who are you?" Mai's voice said. "Why are you-"

"Mai? Who's there?" Noll barely refrained from shouting down the phone. He heard the phone clatter to the floor. "Mai?! Mai?!"

He could hear some sort of scuffle. His feet were stuck to the pavement. He couldn't move.

More gruff noises, a low voice swore and a door slammed.

Someone grabbed at the phone. It sounded like they were struggling.

"Na...Ru…"

Her voice sounded so soft. So faint.

"Mai, what happened?"

"Am...lance…"

"I will call you back."

Noll hung up and immediately called an ambulance to their flat. He was on the other side of the city. There was no way he was going to get there in in less than half an hour. That would be...

After calling the ambulance, he sent a mass text to the entire SPR team in the hope that one of them happened to be closer.

Then he rang Mai's phone again.

And it rang.

And rang.

And rang.

In the rain, the pavements were grey. Just like the rest of the world.

Author's note: So on the news the other day there was a story about a woman murdered in her own home. But she had been on the phone to her husband at the time. And most people would say how tragic that was and my first thought was "that would make for some great angst" because I am thoroughly desensitised to violence and an evil, evil person.

But I hope that woman rests in peace and that her husband is okay.

Angst Week, AKA, how many ways can I kill and torture the characters I love more than most real people.