While Ryu was examinating the pocket watch his fingers passed over the golden patterns. The watch was small but heavy, the cold that's spreading from the smooth metal surface was felt even with just holding in hand. While it was expected to show a silver reflection, the golden beams of light coming from the depths were dazzling. When he turned it upside down an unknown symbols caught his attention. An eye inside a circle... Eye, it felt as if it was watching Ryu.
He shook his head trying to not care about this feeling. "Its definitely an antique. Or why would such a watch do in Blight?" He thought. "Maybe i can take it to an antique dealer and sell it." continued Ryu. He closed the watch cover and put it in his pocket.
After getting up from the old couch, he sets off. But just as Ryu was about to set off, a feeling of fear filled his entire body as he heard a harsh voice coming from behind him. "Hey! Kid! I said stop!" the voice is echoing in the crowd of the square and catching attentions. The ringing bells and the threatening shouts mingling with the marketplace crowd were enough to immobilize him.
He turned his head to where the sound comes from. A man with long black coat and with a fedora hat, his face is hidden because of the dark looks like a silhouette. Ryus instinct told him to move instead of staying still. He learned what is getting caught before, if the runs cost is tiredness then the tiredness cost is blood and pain. His feet suddenly swept off the ground and he was got into action by the sound of rapid footsteps echoing across the stone-paved floor of the marketplace.
"I told you to stop!" Ryu startled with the mans echoed voice from behind him. Even with the marketplaces noise he could understand him. This chase between between them made a chaos that disrupts the rhythm of the space while people rush to do their shopping. When he mingled in the crowd, the mans anger looked intensified even more.
The stands in the square, customers and beggers, narrow streets.. all looked like almost closed. Ryu mingled with people but that wasn't enough. With his shoulder he pushed a stand, the colorful fabrics all scattered on the ground. Fabrics got stuck on the foot. The stands salesmen shouted "Hey! Watch out kid!"
İnstead of answering Ryu headed to another stand. İn this there was fruit; oranges, apples and large watermelons... Pushing the stand he knocked down a few, fruits fell and rolled around on the stone floor. With the corner of his eye he saw that the man coming closer in a hurry. He wasn't loosing Ryus track even with marketplaces crowd.
"You little fucker! I'll kill you when i catch you!"
Ryu was out of breath, his lungs burning. As he twisted and turned in the middle of the crowd, he tried to avoid the sacks hitting his head and the wooden crates rubbing against his arms. He saw another stand infront of him, this time it was full of metal containers. Without hesitation he reached his hand and threw the lined up containers on the man. The containers that fell crashing was like a huge echo in the marketplaces hum. "What are you doing?!" The salesmen shouted after Ryu.
"Would you just leave me alone?" Ryu murmured inwardly. The man didn't know how to stop even after throwing all these items and food. "Stubborn goat" thought Ryu. He realized the sprinkled spice bags infront of him. The smell of the intense aroma from the bags of fresh red pepper, lard, and curry burned his nose. Ryu took advantage of this and kicked one of the bags in the direction of the man chasing him. Spice powders flying out of the bag he kicked got into the mans eyes and made him shout "What?!". Alongside with the man it burnt other peoples eyes too. The people started cough and swinging from side to side. "What's happening?" said one among the people. This short-term of chaos gave Ryu enough time to move forward.
The man who was following him tried to open his eyes with scrubbing them. After opening his eyes he quickly moved his head looking around him. When he didn't see Ryu among the walking people he said "Fuck!" with a angry and anxious sound. He mingled in the crowd after failing to catch Ryu.
...
With a burning gasp of air filling his lungs, Ryu finally looked back and paused. The streets are now quiet. The chaos of chasing disappeared with the marketplaces light hum. Every muscle in his body was shaking after the adrenaline rush of chasing. "Finally..." Ryu muttered. He tried to control his breath while wiping his sweat.
His eyes looked around looking for an exit. He realized a narrow and dark side street just infront of him. The street looked like a mouth inviting to swallow him. Moss had accumulated in the corners of the wall, which were blackened by moisture. He stepped slowly into the street and smelled the damp scent of grass sprouting among the stones under his feet. Stone walls rising from his both sides made him feel like he's stuck in the street. Ryu sniffed lightly. The smell of dampness and something rotting made the place even more unpleasant.
Ryu thought "It's for the best if I hide here for a while."
The street got narrower as it went along. Old boards and broken crates stuck to the walls gave it an abandoned appearance. Amongst these were scattered garbage, unusable metal objects, and the remains of birds that had once shown signs of life but now lay lifeless. As he moved forward a little and turned the corner, he saw a large barrel on the right and a wooden crate leaning against it. He sank to the ground, leaning his back against the barrel.
Ryus eyes was still scanning the area but the street was still completely empty. This lonelyness should've give him a peaceful feeling but instead it was causing unrest. "I better stay here untill that man give up completely." He muttered. He wrapped his arms around his legs and leaned his head on his knees.
He felt that his breathing has become regular after sitting like that for a while. His fingers unintentiolly went to his pocket and took out the pocket watch he stole. The patterns on the golden watch was shining in the dim light that's falling on the street. He examined it for a while quietly. "Could he be the owner of it?" Ryu thought. Because Ryu doesn't remember the faces of the people he stole from, he wouldn't bother to remember their faces since he was just trying to steal their stuff. He returned to examinate the watch again.
Thin golden-embroidered and mixed patterns. His fingertips traced the soft yet firm lines on the edge of the watch's case. "Whoever did this has did a great job." he muttered to himself.
As the golden light reflected off the walls in the alley, a faint smile appeared on Ryu's face. "Think, how much would this cost?" he thought. Then quickly he replied to his question. "At least a hundred... No, maybe two hundred at least! Who knows maybe even more then that."
He reached out his hand and began to examine the fine details on the watch more carefully. His eyes fell on the tiny symbols carved into the case. He paused for a while. "This... could be the symbol of what?" he asked himself but there was no answer. The only thing he knew that this wouldn't have been came out from an ordinary artisan.