Page 2 of A Cold Fateful Night
Pulling her coat around herself tighter she looked nervouslytowards the exit ramp to the barren, snow-covered street above. "Are yousure? We can’t just stay here until the power comes back on?"
Gray eyes coolly looked at her before looking down at his gloveswhich he slipped over his fingers. "I wouldn't suggest it. Not only willyou be alone and hungry, you have no idea when the power will come back on, andI doubt your little coupe will last on gas through a three-day holidayweekend."
His deep matter of fact tone felt like a slap of blizzard windacross her face. Well it was very clear he was heading to the station with herwithout her, frustrated and nervous she turned on her heel and walked towardher car.
"Well, I can’t walk all the way there in this,” signaling toher clothes, “let me change.” The train station was a good distance from theiroffice building, walking all the way there in embroidered faux leatherthree-inch mary-jane hills would be considerably less than ideal, no matter howwonderfully cute they were.
Ignoring the hulking, silent man altogether she used her cellphone light and made it to her car. Opening her trunk, she said an inwardprayer of thanks for continuing to ignore her brothers’ complaints about herjunky car. She always did have a bad habit of keeping a bunch of stuff in hercar in fear she might need it. Well ha, she thought as she pulled out her gymbag—guess who turned out to be right.
Using the light of the trunk only she began to unbutton her coatbefore pausing. Looking behind her Lasette saw the man's silhouette in thepitch black garage by the gate. It looked as if he was standing with his handsin his pockets with his back towards her. Quickly she unbuttoned her faux furcoat and her nineteen forties style wool dress. This was just crazy, neverwould Lasette ever imagined when she got ready that morning would she have tofind herself layering her gym clothes on in the parking garage with somemysterious man a few yards away. Just who was he and why had she not seen himbefore? Surely she would've noticed the towering bulky man.
With two pairs of fleece lined running pants layered over hersheer stockings, her legs felt immensely warmer. Throwing on thin long sleeverunning top and an extra sweater she found in her backseat she re-buttoned herfur coat over the sad ensemble. Tying her tennis shoes tight, Lasette stuffedher cute box purse and a bunch of other random things into her workout bag andclosed the trunk.
Walking over to the gate she stopped when Dorian turned to look ather. "Are you ready?" He didn't wait for an answer. "Becauseonce we walk out this emergency door, it will shut and lock behind us."
Thinking of her warm comfy car she gave let out a sad sigh andnodded. Following him out the door, they stepped onto the dark abandonedstreet. They both watched as the heavy emergency door slam shut echoing loudlyoff the desolate nearby building walls as if proclaiming loudly inreminder–there was no turning back.
Chapter 2
Crunching through the thick snow they both silently trudged sideby side down the long abandoned city sidewalk guided by the flashlight Dorianproduced from his coat. "You know, I haven't even asked you yourname."
There were just too many things happening, from being stuck in apitch-black elevator for the most terrifying five minutes of her life and nowwalking through a blizzard, it was hard to think straight.
"Dorian Fields," the man didn't look at her as hereplied. With his back straight he continued marching forward, his eyesconstantly darting around the perimeter as they walked.
"Oh like Dorian Gray, the book?"
"Spelling yes," he narrowed his gaze at the dark alleythey passed. "However the similarities end there, I do not share his immortalityor...other interest."
For the first time, she felt him look at her with more than ascrutinizing stare but with a lingering heat before looking back to the icypath ahead of them. Momentarily stunned at the heart jumping feeling his lookcaused Lasette subconsciously reverted back to her nervous habit—talking.
"Oh, well that's a nice name. My name is Lasette Crane, Iwork on the eighth floor at Milken's Saddlery. I am their brand management,executive. We sell really expensive an exquisitely made dressage apparel.They're so nice I even spent a small fortune and bought an outfit for myself.Where do you work I haven't seen you around the building before?" Thatprobably sounded dumb she thought, the building was huge with lots of offices andlots of people, so that didn't make sense. She was just so cold she wanted totake her mind off the freezing wind on her face, and he wasn't saying anything.
"I work on the fifth floor for Amtrak, I am a lead systemsafety analyst." His words much like his tone were succinct and to thepoint. Lasette wondered if the man ever talked to anyone or was he just thisway to her.
No, she chided herself, this was a crazy, exhausting situation.Who in their right mind would be in a good mood, she couldn't hold that againstthe quiet man.
"That sounds nice I kind of thought you might have worked atthe office down the way from me," when he didn't respond she continued."There is an MMA or something like that talent agency down the hall."
This time he did react, turning his head a little she could seeone gray eye lock onto her as one dark eyebrow raised in silent query.
She rushed to explain. "I just meant because of yourbuild." She waved one hand up and down at his tall figure as if that saidit all. "You have the exact same physique as the other men I see comingand going." Or should she say what her and her coworkers drool over at anychance they got.
"Physique huh?" Despite the harsh wind that seemed to bepicking up with every step they took, she was able to pick up the teasing notein his tone.
Embarrassed she tried to explain. "I mean…" Looking forthe right words that wouldn't dig her any deeper. "You just kind of remindme of my brothers. Were you in the military by chance?" Surely a man who'seyes kept vigilant watch over every dark alley, and building recess they passedhad some sort of law enforcement training.
Dorrian's shoulders stiffened but is steady pace didn't falter."I was." The stiff reply told her without saying anything more not topress him on the subject.
Feeling properly rebuffed in her attempt at friendly conversationshe put her head down against the biting wind and followed his lead. Sincemoving to Denver a year ago, she never experienced anything like this before.The bustling downtown streets were dark and empty, void of any sign of life,she felt as if they were walking through a scene in a post-apocalyptic movie.Every now and then she tried to look up towards the great colossal buildingsfor any sign life through the windows, but all she could see through the flurryfilled windows was—nothing. Nothing but the black outline of windows withnothing behind them. Lasette had to remind herself that they were walking downa street with very little condos and apartments and the next streets over mostlikely had more signs of life.
They crossed a deserted street to continue along the sidewalk onthe other side. Peering down the street Lasette’s stomach dropped at theblackness that extended down there as well. Was the power out everywhere?
Scared, she risked asking her silent partner another question."How far do you think the outage goes?" The crunch of his boots inthe snow seemed much louder as she waited for him to respond.
"I don't know I won't be able to find out until we get asignal on our phones or we somehow reach higher ground to see the city skyline.Either way, both options are unavailable now." The cold, emotionless toneangered her and hurt her feelings all at once.
If she could go back in time she would definitely tell herself toforget the extra work she was doing on next year's spring roll out, she wouldhave just gone home with everyone else that day. Right now she could be coziedup on her couch with a hot bowl of soup and a glass of wine. Looking up shetried to judge how far they had to go but the blinding wind made it difficultto see. Looking back down she noticed that her steps fell in line with hisperfectly. With each step, Dorian forged in the thick snow his large boots madea perfect hole for her sneakers to safely step in behind him. Looking backbehind her Lasette realized there was only one set of tracks. Turning back tolook forward her heart clenched in guilt as she realized what he was doing. Notonly was he creating an easy path for her to follow he was using his body toblock most of the harsh wind from her face.
