BEK sighting

I always get off at work late. Well, late to me anyway. It's always night when I finally see my first work-less glance of the outdoors after work. That's mainly because I check up with another job to see if anything needs to be done and I volunteer at different stores at the mall; anything to make a legal buck around here; Trust me, that's harder than you think.

Anyway, I don't have the money for a car, so I ride my bike through town to get places. I had it parked behind the backdoor to one of my jobs and near the red line; I had it okayed by security to park there since the only guests to the mall who showed up in this area were fancy rich people picking up their dress-orders for their weddings from my job's location.

I guess that's what first got my attention when I spotted the two kids waiting near my bike. One was dressed in really up-kept black sweats and the other had an orange shirt and some pinstripe pants; by the look of them they could of been one of the rich kids of our clients just waiting while their parents finished last minute shopping. The kid with the sweats seemed to be just lazing about on the brick wall near my bike while the more fancily-clad one seemed to be examining the not-so-automotive disdainfully.

"It's vintage,"

I don't know who he was talking to exactly. I guess he was talking to me. At least, I think he was, but he hadn't looked at me at all. I didn't even know if he knew I was there or not. But yeah, my bike was a vintage; a rarity in the backyard of a kind man who had given it to me without the knowledge of it's true worth. You know what they say, one man's garbage is another's treasure.

"We like your bike"

The one lazing on the wall called out to me. I thought it was kind of strange that they assumed it was mine. I hadn't told them that. Then again, I was well-known for riding it through town. They could have easily seen me on it before.

"Thanks, it's vintage."


"We know."

The boy went on to tell me about the bikes his mother had bought him and his brother. I assume the other was his brother; the more fancily clad boy did seem somewhat nervous compared to how sure of himself the other spoke.

"Actually, we need to use the phone. You have the store key right? Let us use the phone."

The nervous one piped and pointed to the back door of my job. Actually, it seemed strange that he would point there. One, I had exited through a different way and come out from one of the other doors that lead back here. Two, I had told absolutely nobody I was in charge of locking up my job's doors tonight; I'd offered to because I had alot of extra work around the mall and wouldn't have gotten out til' they closed anyway.

"Why do you need to use the phone?"

It was about that time I started to worry. Something about these kids and their presence just didn't add up.

"Our parents said to call our sister to pick us up. But we lost our cellphone."

Of course the one in the sweats-hadn't missed a beat. The fancy-dress one looked away from his brother as if he'd made some kind of error.

"How long have you been out here?"

"Long enough. We really need to use the phone."

"I don't know."

"Just let us in. We won't be more than a minute."

It was at this point that I started looking over the kids once more. Gang activity has been a bother to everyone lately and them putting kids up to their dirty work had been in the norm for the past few months. I know it sounds crazy to look what seemed to be two 12 year olds up and down for any sign of a concealed weapon; but I'd gotten used to stuff like that in the recent months.

"We don't have a weapon. Just let us in."

Finally, I decided they were just too suspicious to help out. You know? Like when you see a homeless guy on the street at night? You feel bad but part of you says he'll mug you for everything you have if you get too close. Unfortunately, these kids were right next to my bike, my means of transportation. So it's not like I had much of a choice; walk to the door or walk to my bike. I decided to meet my instincts half-way.

I made for the door and noticed the kids still standing in their respective places.

"Your letting us in?"

The nervous one asked in mild shock as he and his brother seemingly shambled towards the door; as if they couldn't believe it.

I was about to unlock the door. I looked back to them to say something about being more careful with their phone.

                         When I finally noticed their eyes.

There was no white in them to speak of. Just a purely dark black oasis of identical pools that only had a glimmer of shine in them. I don't know why I suddenly just got this instance of dread. I mean, they were just kids, right?

"Hurry, let us in."

The one in the sweats finally seemed somewhat panicked; as if a great secret had been found out.

"We don't have a weapon. Let us in."

Now he seemed almost panicked but he still held that air of superiority while he spoke.

"Look, no offense, but you kids are freaking me out. How about I just take you to the security guard. Maybe he found your cellphone?"

"No! LET US IN NOW!"

The one in the sweats had finally lost his cool. He kept demanding to be let in and staring at me with his coal black eyes. Part of me wanted to open the door for these kids. It really did. But the more sensical part was screaming for me to get to my bike and flee. I listened to that part.

I never looked back that night. And now I park my bike in the crowded front of the mall. Every now and then I have to scare off a would-be thief or two from it. But it's worth it. I don't know what I saw that night, and my boss doesn't know why I refuse to take the trash to the closest dumpster anymore. I haven't told anyone about what happened. Not even my own family. Looking back on it, I sometimes wonder what would have happened if I'd let them in. I don't think I'd be alive right now if I had. I hate thinking about it. When I do;

I mostly remember those coal black eyes.