I was halfway through the alleyway when the man drew his blade and pushed me back against the wall. He was tall and ragged. His hair curled out in wild tangles of black. As my hand went behind my back I looked into his eyes. They were wild, scared, and dark. He breathed heavily, his eyes shuttered rapidly, revealing that they were...different. I paused for a second as he spoke.
"A man once said, the greatest mystery of man is man himself. Would you agree?" He asked, dropping me from the wall.
I rubbed my neck for a moment and straightened the long black jacket that sheltered my identity. That's when I noticed what was wrong with his eyes. A long scar curved from his face, dipping into his eyes. This man was blind.
"Yes I would."
He smiled, and for the slightest flash of a second, I saw that he was not a man of evil. He was just a man who had survived.
"My name is Yuri."
He offered me no handshake, just a nod. The alleyway seemed smaller. I began to absorb the features of this body. He was slim, but fragile, as if some tragedy had befallen this man. I shook this from my head. An unconscious mind is a man's downfall.
"You are blind Yuri?" I asked him.
Yuri nodded. "Yes Thomas, I am."
My eyes fluttered for a moment. Though it was to be expected, the fact that he knew my name shocked me for some reason.
"Yuri. We must go." I whispered, holding out my hand to feel the raindrops that had begun to fall. I turned on my heel and listened as his footsteps followed, echoing quietly off the soft dirt and brick that held the buildings together.
"So Yuri who are you? How did you become blind?" I asked, stopping as I waited for him to catch up. I lit a cigarette with the gold inscribed lighter I held.
"My name is Yuri Kruschev. I came here after my wife was murdered and my daughter taken away before my very eyes, the men blinded me and stole my old life. I was told you know who did this?"
His eyes flashed as he stared off wildly into the distance.
"Yes Yuri."
"Why have you helped me Thomas?"
"It's my job."
"No Thomas. I know of your past. I may be blind but I am not stupid. How long ago was your daughter killed?"
I stopped as the cigarette fell from my lips, slipping into its last seconds of life as the smoke curled toward the skies. I clutched at my right hand as it began to shake, steadying the two fingers that remained.
"Thomas? I know of your hand."
"You know nothing old man. Be silent." I spat.
"What was her name? Alison?"
Anger is a dangerous thing. i have been well acquainted with it in the past. I have been trained not to let it flare. But Yuri was different. It was the way his eyes blazed, how his words managed to chill my blood more than the falling rain ever could. I turned away from him and began to head out of the alley.
We came to a stop at a corner and Yuri spoke.
"Thomas I am sorry."
"Do not be Yuri." I said, I felt my anger fade, I felt a great pity for myself and for the man beside me.
"Yuri why are we here? Why have men like you and I been forced to be driven away into the darkness while the evil of this world grows to be fat and content?
Yuri sighed as the wind gust around us, blowing the dust of the dirty street past us as it rose away.
"There are many things I do not know Thomas. He replied. "But I know of what I do and of what must be done. I devote my mind toward that and that alone.
I sighed and checked my clock. Fifteen minutes.
"Yuri tell me your story.
Yuri glanced toward the sound of my voice. He mumbled a few words.
"Very well. I was born shortly after the fall of Hitler. My family was suffering so I was sent away to a boarding school where I was taught until I was fourteen. I ran away that year. When I was thirty I met my wife. My child was born shortly after our marriage. Ah, my daughter was so beautiful. I used to tell her stories of her Grandfather and Grandmother. Her eyes used to light up when I was finished. I...
Yuri stopped, hiding his face with his hands to cover the fresh tears that had sprung from his ruined eyes. I placed my hand on his shoulder.
"Be strong Yuri.
"What of you Thomas? What of your daughter?
My lips formed a grimace as I held his shoulders with my ruined hand.
"She was as beautiful as her mother. But so quiet. She was in the park when they killed her mother and stole her away from me. It's funny. The innocent always die and the guilty are left to morn. They took my hand like they took your eyes.
I smiled slyly. I don't know why. But that cruel irony made me grin.
I checked my clock again. Only five minutes until the car arrived.
"Yuri my friend, I wish you could see.
"I do not.
I whirled to face him. "What? I asked.
"I do not wish to see. I do not wish to see the evils of the world that exist. I do not wish to see the faces of the men who murdered my family. It is both a gift and a curse Thomas.
We sat down at a bench and waited there for a few minutes. I glanced at my watch. It was time. A long black car began to pull up. Yuri went rigid, the way a soldier does just before he leaps out of safety and into open combat.
"They are here Thomas?
"Yes. I whispered.
I turned to Yuri and stared into his wide black eyes, the eyes of a man who has been granted a life of misery and woe. A man who I knew was and always would be a good man.
"Yuri, before we go, I want to ask you something.
"Yes Thomas?
"What was your daughter's name?
Yuri smiled and his eyes shinned.
"Natalya. Natalya Kruschev. He said.
"Thank you my friend. I said, holding him in a close embrace.
I fired into his heart.
"You did know nothing. I said quietly.
Yuri went limp as I dropped the gun. He looked at me with blank eyes.
"I am sorry my friend. I said.
Yuri gasped, his head falling back. I placed my hands over his eyes and closed them.
The car door swung open and I slipped inside.
"It is done. I whispered, bowing my head.
The two men across from me smiled.
"Excellent Tommy. Just one more job and you will get your little girl back. I know Alice is waiting. The man in white said.
"Yes. I said, biting back on my tongue.
The man in black waved his hand and the car began to move. I sat back and closed my eyes. Oh my sweet Alison. I will hold you again.
The car rounded the corner and Yuri's body disappeared from sight.
"Natalya Kuschev. I will find you for your father. I whispered, looking at my hands.
"So many scars are made from this. I will not let you become one of them.
I looked outside the window at the flashing light that flew by.
"That I promise.
THE END
