Lifted

At the end of his shift, Adam headed home feeling - for no good reason - fairly content. If he hadn't known himself better, he'd have described his mood as happy.

Sun shining, blue sky, a scattering of fluffy clouds - was that all it took to lift the spirits? He was mildly horrified at the idea. Surely a thinking person shouldn't be this easily swayed by a sunny evening.

Nevertheless, he was alarmingly close to having a spring in his step.

His good mood lasted almost all the way home. After turning the corner into his street, trying to decide whether he'd give Ai No Corrida another go, or watch an old favourite like Once Upon a Time in America, he noticed a couple of figures standing at the door to his building.

Two men, both dressed in suit and tie, just waiting. Not leaning or slouching, not chatting between themselves, there was something both oddly formal and blandly faceless about them. And while there didn't seem to be anything overtly aggressive or menacing in their stance, Adam felt uneasy.

He suddenly felt absolutely certain that it was him they wanted to see. Why?

He paused, ducking into one of the street's many alleyways - wondering what to do next.

The next moment, strong hands grabbed him, yanked him off his feet and hauled him into the gloom.



Story starts here.