Let me Tell You a Story About a Soldier in an Alley

Photo by Aleksandar Pasaric: https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-dark-alleyway-3123833/

It should have been just like any other day.

Toronto in July. Hot, humid, even at night. To the smell of dirt and ozone, Mandy walked down the busy street. The darkness of the night broken by the yellow glow of the streetlights. As she walked she decided to do the foolish: walk in a dimly lit alleyway.

A move meant to hasten her travel time more than anything else, she trotted along until she saw a soldier, covered in blood, laying across the alley. Mandy froze at first, processing the sight before her. Then she ran up to the soldier. Blood drenched his camo fatigues. Blood appeared to ooze from his helmet.

“Miss...” the soldier wheezed out... “They got through... the Americans... they’re attacking the city. We chased them out... of Queen’s Park, giving enough time... for the Premier to flee.”

Mandy looked around. The alley still quiet. The streets a normal bustle. Not a soldier, or gun, in sight, other than the one in front of her. Her attention returned to the soldier as he gargled “Miss... please... get to... city... hall... warn... the mayor...”

He croaked out one last breath before slumping in front of her. Mandy jumped up and sprinted out of the alley shouting “Hello! Hello! Someone!”

A man in a suit looking worse for wear approached her, following her into the alley. “Please! I need help... he...”

The words died in her throat. The alleyway laid empty. No soldier or blood where he would have bled. No drag marks, or footprints. Nothing showing there had ever been anyone there.

The man just huffed. “I ain’t getting robbed again!” he then walked back out to the street.

“The hell?” she thought as she left the alley, wondering if she still needed to go to City Hall.