The Full Moon (open)

It is, of course, night. The night means darkness and the next drunkard hauling his way out of my house to go prepare for the horrors of day. I slowly rub my temples, trying to battle the headache that has been making skirmishes on my sanity all day. The fifth drunkard always heralds the end of the work day, and it's so late that for once, I close up shop early.

Even bed, however, is not salvation.

My eyes stare at the monotone white paint on the ceiling as I trace a pattern on my bedsheet. White, white, white. The color of the table where my patients sit as I diagnose them and - I squeeze my eyes shut and attempt to wipe all thoughts of work from my mind. Now is not the time, nor the day. But I can't take it any longer. I slide out of my bed and into my tough work shoes. Even my clothing reflects my occupation - spotless and clean. I realize that I didn't even take off my coat before eating dinner and crawling into bed. What an idiot. My front door opens and I pull my coat a little tighter around my limbs.

Maybe I could just sit on the porch and read like I usually do. But today I feel more like movement, like activity. The ground crunches underfoot as I walk the familiar paths of the District I know so well. The Peacekeepers could easily pop out and order me back to my home, so I decide to take a more secluded path between houses, around hedges. It's only a matter of time before I make a complete, criss-crossing tour of the whole District. But my walk is interrupted by the sight of two figures, the moon shining on both of them. It's an uncommon sight - two others out at the exact same time as I am.

Curiosity killed the cat, I think.

But maybe I really shouldn't listen to all those old adages. I'm ignoring common sense and reality as I move towards the two, ready for either a welcome or a confrontation.

So, she's obviously very, very, very into violence. But I can deal with that. Just like I deal with the idiots who come crashing into my clinic on a daily basis. I hold my hands outwards, palms up, in a gesture of peace.

"Look, I'm not here to fight you. I'm just here because I want to take a walk..... you have heard of leisurely walks, right?"

I probably shouldn't have added that bit of sarcasm at the end. Oh well. At least I can defend myself, to a certain degree.

I raise an eyebrow as she approaches. The first thing I notice is that she isn't an adult. In fact, she's a teenager. The knife is an afterthought.

A rather important afterthought, however. A knife is dangerous, but, however, so am I.

So is everyone here, apparently.

"Hey. I don't take risks. I'm a surgeon." I pause, wondering if this is a good thing to say. Too late now. So I forge onwards. "But if you are really, really looking to kill someone, I'd suggest going right past me to the Peacekeepers. You'll find plenty of people to kill right there."

I never liked having someone spill blood on a full moon. A full moon seems to be especially important to this girl, though, so maybe I can twist her motives a little.

Not her motives, though. Maybe just.. her train of thought.

I don't respond at first. I'm timid, for once.

"Before I go... can I ask why you're here?"

Oh. Did I just say that? Did I really just say that? Is my brain a total wreck today?

I probably just sealed my death sentence.

Well, well, well.

I have hit a nerve, and a sore one at that. A child losing her mother? Very interesting. I would, though, like to know more. I'm a curious person by nature, but at least it would keep up a conversation and keep me from dying by the girl's knife.

"What.. do you know what she was ill with? Or was it an injury?"

I am being ordered around by a little girl.

A little girl.

What is wrong with me?

I gently reach towards the inside pocket of my coat, keeping my other hand outwards. Hopefully, I can stay still and not provoke a sudden attack before I manage to draw my own weapon.

Luck, though, could be either on or not on my side.