Shadows In Durango

Chapter 1

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Chapter 1

Hxkx%G0fig's POVHHREK

"Your keys Miss, rent is due in a month - and remember to make it cash!" The grumbly caretaker tosses the

metal towardscarelessly as | fumble to catch them, swallowing to wet my drying throat. "Thank you..." |

manage to say, with my voice barely audible, but he nods nonetheless as though he had heardbefore

making his exit.

He was a stout man, who didn't pride himself much on his appearance by the looks of things, but who was | to

judge anyone in this state?

| had managed to land this little apartment for only $350 per month, and although that doesn't sound much to

the average person, it really was a lot for somebody who was new to town without a job...

Not to mention my new school that would be taking up most of my tduring the week. | would need a night

tjob no doubt, something convenient to helpmake smoney - and fast.

I sigh, hearing the front door creak before finally closing over, givinga proper moment to view the apartment

for what it was.

It had nothing in it, no furniture, and the place looked as though it had seen over a thousand crack parties in its

time.

| was already wary of my neighbours too who | had passed by on my way inside here. Two men who both stood

out in front of the building seeming to smoke something that evidently wasn't normal nicotine or tobacco.

| peered out of the broken blinds, seeing one of them wobble slightly in his high state, before rebalancing himself

and going in for another puff - this tfrom a small pipe that | could see...

Unfortunately, it seemed that one of the men was the top floor resident and the other was the bottom floor -

sandwichingin between them like scruel prank in our block of three.

I had no choice though, this was the cheapest place | could find and I chose this life for myself... this was my

burden to carry and | had to make the most of it at this point because | knew | would never go back home.

| walk towards the tiny kitchen, finding nothing in the cupboards other than ssoup tins and so | quickly go

back over to my bags which were left in the centre of the floor.

| unzip the one which contained my last small puddle of cash in order to scrutinise just how much I had fucked up

thus far...

I had used most of what I took now, and this was my last chance to settle somewhere without them finding me

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again... and so this has to work!

I pull out my small pink zip purse, opening it to reveal snotes and coins as | slump down on the hard wood

floor and tip the contents out. Taking a second to start counting it, | chew my lip in anticipation for how bad my

situation really was this taround... fifty... seventy... ninety... Pointing to each coin for it to count towards my

total, I slump my shoulders slightly and breathe out.

SNE cco

Not enough for next month's rent but it's something to getby until | find a job, right?

| check the clock, seeing that it was three in the afternoon, as | push all of my money back inside of the purse -

putting it into my bag once again.

| guess it's tto explore my new town - Durango, Colorado.

| was getting further West, but | didn't mind.

Before now, | had just stuck to city hopping, having lived in two already before coming to this place. But they

would always manage to huntdown, like | was a wild animal, and this taround | knew that | had to try a

different tactic. A smaller town would be harder to find and hopefully they would just bypass the place assuming

that | would have gone to Vegas or somewhere more extravagant.

I will say though, I did get more for my money in the cities with there being better housing options, but | couldn't

grumble - at least | have a roof over my head and a door that locks.

With that, | toss my backpack over my shoulder and head back out - taking the keys and locking the door behind

I quickly rush down the stairs, out in to the bright sun, silencing my two neighbours who eyecuriously with

creepy grins.

Thankfully, they say nothing as | pass through the middle of them both, but after a few more steps they both

snigger and mutter between themselves - their words inaudible and | wasn't sure if | would have wanted to hear

what they were saying either.

| follow a sign towards the town centre, learning quickly that my street seemed to be filled with addicts and

drunken people as | passed by, but | didn't mind - as long as they were peaceful and leftout of it that is...

The town itself was gorgeous, far different to the city life, and | got the vibe that this was no doubt a place where

everyone knew each other.

| was shocked to find that a couple of blocks away from my own apartment, the streets were lined with

ridiculously large extravagant properties and fancy cars, highlighting the wealth that also resided in this small

place.

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| quickened my step, slightly embarrassed to be walking by the residents who sat out on their front porches to

enjoy the sun - with my messy unclean hair and overall scruffy appearance.

I would have to grab snecessities to shower with, or | would face backlash on my first day of school which |

didn't want nor need on top of everything else that | had going on. Plus, nobody would hirelooking like this

either!

| eventually reached the main town, passing a number of boutique restaurants and coffee shops, before finding a

discount store that | quickly swerved into in shame.

The lady on the till seemed surprised when | walked in, but quickly forced a smile to which I returned awkwardly

and hurried towards the isles.

Do | look that bad now? | had never let myself get this unkept... but this was nothing more than a result of

travelling for eight days straight to get here...

Deciding to put my pride first, | granted myself permission to spend what | had to spend in order to freshen up

completely for my first day of school tomorrow.

Glancing across the hair and body products thankful to find that they were pretty cheap, | grabbed a small

basket and began to add shampoo, conditioner, body wash, a sponge, toothpaste, a toothbrush, deodorant and a

razor to shave with. Calculating the total in my head, | was relieved to have only spent seven dollars - returning

back to the checkout lady with my products.

She looked somewhat guilty, as she scanned each one, glancing over what | had cin here for.

"Uhh listen dear... it's on the house... don't worry about paying today, we all fall into a low place sometimes but

you'll pick yourself back up again... I'll cover your total." The woman's words shock me, as my lips part and my

eyes widen. "N-No | can pay!" | push, quickly retrieving my purse in embarrassment as she shakes her head and

wavesoff.

"Put your money to something else, there's a great little thrift store across the road, you could have a look in

there? I'll get this." She pushes, bagging up my products as | gulp and nod slowly.

This was embarrassing, but | couldn't help but feel grateful.

"Thank you... I'm uh, new around here... | just need stto get on my feet." | nod quickly, realising that

she probably thought | was an addict of ssort looking this way.

"I understand, have a nice day dear..." She smiles and ignores my rambles, handingthe bag with a soft smile

as | thank her once more and hurry out of the store.

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linhale a slow breath, before spotting the thrift store across the road that the lady had spoken of.

Maybe | could go in and use the money | would have spent for a first day school outfit?

I sigh, noticing sgirls around my age staring over atfrom down the street in confusion. | quickly cross

the road, rushing towards the store to get away from their judgemental eyes - hurrying myself inside.

The place was huge, organised in to colours and sizes as | head towards the pinks first to browse. | loved clothes,

and at first when | left h| had took most of what | had with me. But each tthey found me, | had to flee as

quickly as possible which meant that sadly stuff got left behind on the way.

| think | have three outfits and sunderwear left, that | could hand wash in the sink when | get back hto

freshen up a bit.

I pull out a pink crop top with buttons at the top, and seeing that the shirt was only two dollars | decide to take it.

| also find a baby blue tee, plain with only a white heart on the left hand side. Due to having a small mark on the

sleeve it was only a dollar to which I also decide to get it.

It was an odd feeling, shopping for clothes again when it was something | used to enjoy so much but | enjoyed it

in here nonetheless. Like every other store though, sof the prices were really great and other prices seemed

ridiculous, especially for second hand clothes.

| moved towards the jeans, rummaging through the racks for my size before finding a nice black pair for only five

dollars in a ‘Mom style’ fit.

Ok | can't spend anything else, this was a treat... | decide, as | head towards the checkout desk and count out

what | need.

The younger guy watches me, choosing to stay silent since he probably deals with people who look likeevery

day in here, before | hand him over eight dollars total to which he thanksand bags the stuff for me.

Leaving, | stop in to the small excursion shop next door finding the different activities and trips you could book in

or close to town before my eyes land on a little brochure with a map of town on the back.

Perfect! That would helpfind my way around a little better!

| place the pamphlet in my bag, and trudge my way back towards my new empty apartment to freshen up as

much as humanly possible for my big day tomorrow...

But | could confirm so far that this place wasn't all bad...

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Shadows In Durango

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