Black cat

So here I am again.

It's almost time.

Good luck and God's speed.

Just remember you have to play by the rules of the house my friend.

It's time to close my eyes and roll the dice.

The moment has arrived.

Are you ready?

You know what you have to do.

Gather yourself and prepare for what might lay ahead.

Make sure you pick the safest place for your entrance.

They like to dwell towards the end of this place

Hovering in the depths of Gypsy congregations.

Go ahead.

Force the lump back down your throat and take the first step towards being invisible.

It's not like you've never been here before.

Sealed in without shadows.

Ears constantly pointed upwards to the sky.

The hair on the back of my neck stretching outwards leaves a steady chill.

The task is the same as the one before it.

It's like the constant back and forth of trench warfare.

Trying to match wits with Honzites in the land of the Hussites.

Doesn't sound to hard now does it?

But they are able to put up a challenge in their own dull way.

The long grass never stays down long.

Sifting through the blank stares is never simple.

They'll show their faces sooner or later if they're here.

I think the displeasure they bring gives them a twisted satisfaction.

You can see it on their faces after a successful hunt.

Like a bragging dog licking the blood from around it's mouth just to show the others his dominance.

Just relax the first act will be coming to a close soon.

Shit!

It's him!

So obvious.

How could he think he's fooling anyone?

I knew there was something about him.

Too ordinary perhaps?

That's a laughable description in a place where being ordinary is always at the height of fashion.

Look at him shuffling about impatiently trying to choose a soul to shatter.

Actually something appears to wrong.

Is he unknowingly exposing a chink in his armor?

No.

Maybe he's just drunk.

Hell I wish I was right now.

At least it would make this nightmare seem a little softer around the edges.

I've got to just push my galloping heart back into my chest and carry on.

Why the fuck do I do this?

Do I in some perverted way enjoy tormenting myself?

What's the point of swimming upstream without spawning?

What the fuck am I talking about?

Jesus Christ!

Heighten your senses and focus on the moment God damn it!

You know exactly what the stakes are.

You remember the last time they sniffed you out, don't you?

Get your head back into the game.

Quick!

Look around and make sure that they haven't exploited your lull in awareness.

I can't see far enough to feel safe.

That fucking drunk is blocking my view!

Maybe he is a part of the grand scheme.

Sent in to distract me so that they can sneak up and pounce on me when I least expect it.

Sinking their nicotine stained claws into me.

Then they'll drag me off to the lifeblood dispenser and take what they are entitled to.

For themselves?

Or for their higher ups so that they can keep the machine greased and smiling.

Who knows?

Who cares?

What is important right now is clarity.

Bingo!

Keep your eyes on stubby little Ludek and his gangly friend 2 meter Petr.

Those guys have got to be the real deal.

Just look at them.

Their attempt at acting natural is simply laughable.

But they do have the upper hand in this world.

Excuses and explanations are now a thing of the past.

There is no doubt everything is crumbling around me.

Are they holding anything?

Shit!

I can't tell from here.

What to do now?

Maybe I'll get lucky and they'll feast on the drunk before they come for me.

Perhaps getting caught up with one of those young girls is all they're after.

An eagerly accepted part of the job I guess.

I would think exposure is always a curse in their line of work.

Who really give a shit?

As long as it gives me a chance to break out of this seemingly eternal journey.

Every moment that goes by moves me closer to salvation.

Come on!

Why they hell have we been stuck here for so long?

We're almost there!

So close!

I'm beginning to feel the weight lift slowly off my chest.

For some odd reason I must really enjoy this.

Putting myself in in a position of discomfort.

Being in this stale forest.

Amongst all these motionless trees.

All of them wearing their unpleasant masks.

Fitted for them when they were just children to be worn with a high chin.

I can see it.

The stench in this place is numb to me at this moment.

My nose has done me a favor by turning the smell of people and stale beer into rose like freedom.

Ok here we are.

Out of my way God damn it!

They're getting closer!

Shit!

They've decided to bypass the drunk and are coming directly for me!

Why did I make eye contact?

Idiot!

Now I've missed my chance of a swift exit.

Double shit!

I can't believe I forgot how the system works.

Have I sealed my own fate?

The chants of dovolenim have already stared.

Push closer!

Now comes the migration.

Everyone catches the tide and splashes out onto the patchwork sidewalk.

I take a deep breath and join them.

Emerging from the terror dome with a heavy sigh a relief and a winners smile.

Now it's finally time for the next act.

But now I have to ask myself a different version of the same question.

Should I buy a ticket before I transfer to the Metro?

By the stray cat.