Snippet #1641634

Ashley had an almost full pack of cigarettes and a lighter sitting in his pocket, the smoke from the missing cigarette drifted out of his mouth and floated up to be tangled in the branches of the tree above him. It was cold, colder than it should have been this time in Arkham. "When is Arkham ever warm?" He asked himself, coughing into his gloves. A car passed by him, something flashy and red, probably being driven by one of the kids who got their parents to buy them into school. He coughed again, standing out here was murder on his lungs. He said two o' clock, it was now two thirty. Nigel was very, very, late. Eventually, a hummer drove up to the side of the street, and a familiar gaunt and reedy boy sat in the driver's seat.

"Hello sir. I'm sorry I'm a bit late, traffic was a bit heavier than I had expected." Ashley nodded and sat down, glad to finally be on his way. Nigel made sure that the entire ride was full of chatter, a low buzz of meaningless blither that made Sir Ashley think that Nigel was allergic to silence. Eventually the noise died down and Nigel allowed the professor to get a word in edgewise.

"Are you sure that the book I'm thinking of is where we think it is?" Nigel paused and stayed silent for a few seconds, as if picking his words out carefully.

"Almost, the twins are fraternal so we can't be... sure." Ashley nodded.

"I hope that this is the correct one for once. Just as you should."

With his threat floating in the air, choking off any other words that dared show their heads, the ride was peaceful and quiet. They rode into the city in silence, and went down the almost abandoned Garrison street without speaking a word. They had almost reached Water street when Ashley broke the silence, "Arkham isn't what it used to be is it?"

"Oh, well I think-"

"I remember how it used to be. Proud, years of tradition and schooling had made us strong."

"Yeah, I mean-"

"We had principles in the old days. We had bastions of strength that we followed!"

They went over the river and drove down West Street. Then, Nigel turned and stopped, right off of Hangman's Brook. They both got out. "Is it here?" Nigel nodded. "Then let's go."