....................................................................................................................................

               Chapter Two: LOCKED


With both his hands in his black jacket pocket, Brian slowly walks along the wet sidewalks of New York. Small raindrops are falling down on him but he doesn’t bother covering himself, like everybody else. Still keeping his head down, he stops at an Antique Theater store’s window. There are multiple television sets displayed behind a large window, showing an old-time black and white movie. On the screens, a handsome man and a pretty lady are kissing with passion as the scene purposely plays over and over again like a black vinyl record annoyingly repeating the same words.

Brian almost curls a smile in the corner of his lips but masks all emotions when a young boy comes up to him and rudely pulls on his jacket. Brian barely turns his head towards the seven years old-like boy and his friend, keeping his hands in his pockets and his uninterested look hard to tell.

“He’s gonna die.” The little boy says to his friend, pointing at Brian and smirking. Brian stares at him expressionlessly. Both little boys look at Brian silently, till Brian looks away and they leave him, running across the street.

Brian looks back at the window display, to sadly see that the televisions have been turned off. Only reflections appear onto the black screens. 

......................................................................................................................................