Luke Ashley – Chapter 4
He lived about ten minutes Walk away from Queens Park tube station passing the number six bus stop on the way. Both took him within minutes of her house. After walking a few footsteps with the cold breeze hitting his exposed face, the heavens opened and heavy rain began to fall. Bus stop it was then.
As he approached the bus stop he noticed someone sitting on the bench, his thumbs working furiously on his mobile, obviously writing a text. Luke stepped under the shelter catching his attention. He could barely see the guy’s face hidden in the shadows of his hood.
The man quickly put his phone away keeping his hands in his pockets. Luke kept an eye on him out of the corner of his eye, watching for anything suspicious. He knew the area all too well, and knew what went on night. He was accustomed to walking past the bright yellow police signs asking for witnesses to violent crimes in the neighbourhood. Did he have a knife in his pocket ?
“Oi’ the hooded figure called out to him trying to catch his attention, “have you got the time?” Luke turned around and stared at him, trying to catch his eyes which were semi hidden in shadow. “What do you want” Luke said. The man hesitated but asked again “have you got the time?”
“What’s wrong with the clock on your phone? Does it not work or do you not know how to tell the time?” Luke said whilst pointing at the man’s pocket. He didn’t reply, he just stared back. The tension grew, both parties reluctant to be the first to look away. Luke didn’t have the patience to stand there all night and wait for him to give in, so he moved towards him not breaking eye contact and stood right in front of him.
“That’s what I thought” Luke uttered and began to walk, leaving the bus shelter behind him, every now and then checking over his shoulder to make sure he wasn’t being followed. The hooded guy remained seated, exactly where he was, but no longer seemed to be watching him anymore.
Luke shook off the rain which had rested on his duffel coat as he entered Queens Park Station. He had the habit of walking down to the end of the platform and getting on the last carriage. He was guaranteed a seat that way, and was unlikely to have to give it up for the elderly.
He got onto the last carriage and sat down. He heard a series of doors being slammed which seemed to be getting louder. He presumed it was the driver or someone from the underground coming to tell him there was something wrong with the train. Typical London Underground. The door connecting the carriages to Luke’s left suddenly opened, revealing a young man in a black hood.
Was it the guy at the bus shelter looking for trouble? It was dark then, and he couldn’t really see his face, so he wasn’t sure. The man returned his look then slammed the door behind him. He walked past Luke and towards the end of the carriage.
Luke followed him with his eyes turning his head. He saw that towards the end of the carriage a rather built man who was wearing a grey tracksuit had got on the train, and sat at the back. Luke looked back at himself in the window.. “peace of mind.”