The few bodies that wander the streets sober keep to themselves, walking the grey pavements quiet and alone. Huddled silhouettes that mumble and groan in tucked away side streets just seem to blend in with the plainness of their surroundings. Lofty buildings masked with eroded brickwork shield their business from passers by, but the rough rubbing of money on money can be heard like an explosion.
Cars and Taxis shoot past. They whiz and zoom across the streets, leaving a prominent oily scent in the atmosphere. Etching tyre marks into the road, young ‘boy-racers’ screech round corners and drum their dump valve as they switch gears. Red, amber and green spheres stand on top of large black poles, appearing and disappearing, whilst cars rush past and stop by them. The tiny men that perch inside of them flash and beep in unison; letting small herds of people amble across the zebra motif patterned on the floor.
Like aligned soldiers ready for battle, the sturdy concrete traffic bollards line the edge of the pavement, caged by the sturdy metallic gate that towers behind them. The faint glow that drops from the lone street lamp splashes over the ebony face of the tarmac road, leaving a pathetic puddle of light to brighten the vast blackness of the midnight sky. Its beams entice small insects and bugs to flitter and hover around its alluring glow, creating tiny flickering shadows in the pool below.
Tubular poles rise up into the heavens neighbouring the vast office block that they house. Accompanied with nuts, bolts and planks, they form the scaffolding that allow labouring builders to clamber up and down day after day. The random windows that emit some faint artificial light rise high above the city and stare at it with piercing eyes, catching every event, but never able to unveil its secrets.
The echoing sound of club music vibrates the narrow street and worms its way into every crack and crevice. Shaking even the tallest and mightiest of buildings, its bass penetrates every solid object. Like a flame the night is slowly burning out, extinguishing all the hype and energy that gathers in this city. The weekend has brought alive the monster that thrives on the alcohol, drugs and parties, satisfying its appetite for another week. It may regret it in the morning as its head bangs, ears screech and stomach spews; but the satisfaction is too great! And until the following weekend…
The city sleeps.
