"Hello."
At first I was startled. I used to live in that kind of place where you just don't 'hello' strangers - unless you intend to mug them. Don't get me wrong, you grow to like the fact that virtually no one makes as little as eye contact, but things would get a little lonely eventually.
But that voice - just like its owner - didn't quite seem like an avarage thief. He was, as cliche as it may sound, tall, dark and handsome. His voice was a polite and courtious, and in a city of 2.4 million people, about 2.3 million of them being Kykes, Fags, Chavs, Guidos, Micks, Niggers and Spics - all of them loud, dirty, and ever so... different, to be politically correct - well, in a city like that, courtesy and politeness were about as rare as silence.
"Hello," I replied. I was still on my guard. As I said, this wasn't a town you'd trust a stranger, just like that.
"Excuse me for asking, But are you local?" he asked with a charming smile."Yes, yes I am," I replied. For some reason, the stramger not only seemed decent and trustworthy, but even somewhat familiar.
"Could you be so kind as to direct me to the Golden Tulip hotel?" he asked, and I couldn't hold my serious face up anymore, so I smiled right back at him.
"As a matter of fact, it's less than half a block to where I'm headed," I replied, still smiling. And just like that, like there was nothing odd or awkward about his request, "Excuse me for asking," he said, "But will you walk with me? It would be very generous of you."
"But of course! Always glad to help," I said. It was nice to see that there were still decent men and women out there, people who talked politely, without any foreign accent or weird skin tones. Even my closest friends, some of them descendants to some of the richest and most powerful families in the city, were showing uncivilized behaviour with their drug addictions or violence towards their wives or gambling debts.
We started walking, and I introduced myself. To my surprise, the stranger didn't state his full name, but instead told me that if I must refer to him by a name, he wishes to be called "Mr. P.""No problem whatsoever, Mr. P," I said, smirking slightly. "Can I ask what brings you to our town?"
"I'm here on a business trip," he said. And again, I felt that same strange sensation that I had when I first laid
eyes on him, that not only do I have some unexplained affection for him, I also know him, or at least of him. "I'm meeting my associates, three of them, in the Golden Tulip. Our plan is schedueled for tonight."
"What plan is that, my friend?" I asked curiously. I had no doubt that what ever plan this man may participate in, I'd like to hear about it.
"Well, see, me and my friends, the four of us, were somewhat of a group," Mr. P explained. "Our plan, in general, is to combine forces and to improve the face of this city - starting tonight."
"It is, is it?" I asked, delighted. "Well, I can say that whatever you have in store, I'm on your side. this city has only been going downhill in the past few years," I said.
"I couldn't agree with you more," he said and his smile reappeared. "Me and my friends feel that someone should have done something a long time ago to break this city's circles of indifference and hatred and violence, but since no one stepped up to the job, we figured that it was up to us."
"I can't tell you how much I appreciate it. I lived here all my life, and all this time I've waited for such an act to be done. I'm thrilled to hear that something is finally happening. So tonight, you say?" I asked.
"Tonight it is," he confirmed. we were almost at the Golden Tulip, but then all of a sudden I came into a halt.
It was almost as shocking as the strike of a lightning.
"I know who you are."
"Is that right?" asked Mr. P with a broad smile on his face. "Well, it doesn't seem to matter anyway right now, don't you think?" he asked, his smile so nice and lovely that it hung about in midair a few seconds after he stopped talking.
"I guess it doesn't," I said.
"Well, I'm off to meet my friends. Do enjoy the rest of your night, and thank you very very much. Walking with you was very pleasurable," He said.
"The pleasure was all mine," I answered, and felt like I got back to my senses. He offered his hand and I shook it. it was as cold as death itsef.
"Good night then," said Plague as he entered the hotel, mounted his winged horse and rode off to bring forth our doom.
