The shelter above the broken gas pumps offers a brief solace from the torrent-like rain. It wasn’t extremely windy, but water would rain and splash in regardless. At least it wasn’t equal to standing directly under a bucket like it was under the dark menacing skies. Though, if one already was thoroughly soaked by Mother Nature, it most likely didn’t matter much where you were. You were soaked and cold, period.

This close, the building still seemed good enough. Yes, the windows were shattered, and inside it looked a mess. The walls outside had received various decorations in the form of vines, mold, cracks and discoloration. From outside you can see some shelves, chairs and tables. None of them is where or in a position they are supposed to be. It is hard to tell, but the shop seems empty of all the wares it once had. It has been years already, so it is no surprise that a gas station this close to a big city and big suburban areas is already looted empty.

As you walk across the remainder of the lot, approaching the shattered doors of the gas station, you can see a brief glimpse of a shadow inside the building. It flashes by the door quickly. It seemed like a dog or a large cat, or something similar. It moved on four legs and had a tail. That much you are sure of, though there are many other things in the world that would fit the description. You don’t hear anything because of the rain, but you know what you saw.