buildings

buildings

Breath escaped me. Running had become an autopilot function. The wind
battered me with its unrelenting fists, slowing me in its wake. It was dark
around me, and the sky showed no signs of becoming any lighter, at least
within the immediate time frame... If there was such a thing.

No matter how far it had taken me, the same building crossed my path over
and over again. Its seemingly drab colors and overall unassuming demeanor
felt all the more evil each time it appeared. The walls were concrete, in a state
of disrepair, and a certain grayish hue, though it was hard to tell in the dark.
The seams of the blocks used to construct the building were clearly visible,
however, against the soft glow of a street lamp nearby. The structure towered
over me, cutting the sky with precise angle and shape. Each window stacked
neatly in rows, as though they were eyes peering out at my futile attempts to
escape it, even though we both know it was nigh impossible.

The subtle shades of light that the moon had woven into the cold night air danced
on the panes of glass in a rather delicate way. The windows were as black holes,
both devouring and producing the rays themselves. Passing by again would have
given me another chance at deciphering their mystery, though the choice was
not mine to make. It lead me on, which was both a blessing and a curse at this point.

Even in my desperation to flee from this monolithic terror, something strange
about it had caught my eye. In no windows could any persons be seen, no
lights from inside, no sign of life whatsoever. Having passed it countless
times already, noticing these things and eventually becoming enthralled by them
was simply an inevitability. It was hard to concentrate. Feeling the need to move,
pressing forward, it came to me completely as a blur. Over time, my mind slowed,
as did my pace.

The feeling of sweat pouring down my face felt ill in the cool air. It was like a
stark contrast between fire and ice; a palpable layer of disgust ran over my
body as I stood and gasped for air.

It did not stand far from me. An arguable twenty steps would have taken me close
enough to touch it, if such a thing could be desired. As was expected though, it
was unstoppable, and over the course of what felt like hours, it consumed me.
It drew me closer. Moving towards it, a feeling of malice flew over me. Hateful
intent, something darker than what one would usually admit towards something.
This new feeling suddenly overtook my curiosity, and drove me into a fit of rage.
Running towards the broadside of the building, my right arm acted completely
on it's own. My hand became a fist without me even realizing it, and slammed
into the side of this accursed structure. The pain was dull, but nevertheless there.

It quickly became more intense. Coarsing through my arm, it trickled down my back
and into my legs, up my spine and through my skull. It was cold. After only a short
moment, my fist fell from the wall, bruised. The building, however, had not received a
single mark. With all my strength, my fist flung itself into the wall once more. Pain again
had made itself known to me, and still to no avail. Upon removing my fist, still no marks
were to be found. This confused and angered me. This cold hard structure, it has no

soul.
It cannot feel. It doesn't know me, and yet it haunts me.

Having given up, my mind began to recoil. The night air had become even cooler.
My breath formed small clouds before me, disappearing as quickly as they appeared.
Backing away from the building, the feeling of defeat had already swept over me.
It had won, undoubtedly surpassing me in all areas. It was calm, collected... sane.
Nothing about me was any of those things. The anger that filled me, the hatred.
It was nonsensical, and had no real grounds. And yet there it was. Its presence
was undeniable, inescapable, inevitable. As were its effects. My fist was bruised
and bloodied, it was as though the building had dealt a death blow that missed.

Before I was able to leave, however, something caught my eye again.
In one of the windows now stood a person. Making out their face was not feasible,
it appeared to me as but a silhouette. I stood there in awe, awaiting some gesture
from the image... none were given. I waved my arm, as high as I could, in the hopes
it would see me, but still nothing.

As I stood there in the road, staring in that window, I felt them. It was like I had felt
them when I struck that building. I remembered that feeling. It was again cold.
The figure backed away from the window, slowly, disappearing into the darkness
that shrouded them to begin with.

Breath escaped me.