Snippet #1889182

The hour was late. The sky was pigminted ink flecked with white-out stars that twinkled icily in silence.
The pale light of a lantern flickered solemnly in the empty world as a figure approached it.

A voice sang softly. "...The sun so hot I froze to death, Oh Susanna don't you cry..."

Jasper was on one of his midnight walks again. He flicked idily at the cigarette between his lips that filled the air with smoky perfume, singing a simple tune as he strolled the empty streets. Somehow, he was happier here by himself than anywhere in the world, even his own home. The thought of sleeping in his own room spooked him; it was just so vulnerable. His entire family had disappeared during the night, in the safety of their own beds. He wanted to be the exception.

It was icy cold, but Jasper hardly noticed. He was used to hiking around the city for hours on end. He only wore his gray windbreaker out of custom. He was a night creature. With dreamy, sleepy eyes he glanced up the pale moon, noting the thick foggy clouds that encircled it and floated ever-so-slowly. Strange. It was like an omen, he mused. But he was only kidding himself. He felt perfectly safe, armed with a hidden knife and powerful legs.

"...But if I do not find her, this darkley'll surely die, and when I'm dead and buried...Susanna don't you cry..."

Vaguely, the feeling that he was being watched began to creep up onto him, like dark fingers that wanted to smother his happiness. His eyes scanned the shadows, but saw nothing. He walked faster, reassuring himself that it was only paranoia, and nothing more.