Part 2:

The night is still cloaking above with its mystifying black blanket, with its star pattern still resplendent in its sky. What time is it I wonder…? Probably half one in the morning I’m guessing, then again, I’m too lazy to check. Still, I feel like I only parted ways with that Dante guy five minutes ago. Man, time sure is flying.

My feet remain tireless as I trek, my right hand clenched onto the concealed blade that I hold in a reverse grip. I’ve had a few glances and stares here and there but at the end of the day, I’m just another face in the crowd. New York is a huge city after all. Me holding a blade should be the least of their concerns. If they can easily forget and ignore a meteor strike that happened two months ago, then I can easily slip by with a blade in my hand… Although, the ignorance of this city really worries me sometimes… 

My trail comes to an abrupt end as I situate myself down onto one of the sandy beaches off the coasts. The waves slowly and calmly hit the shore. It’s pitch black from where I’m looking, out to sea. The only light within sight is behind me, back to the city.

My eyes haven’t adjusted to this darkness yet, most likely because I was surrounded by the lights from every direction. The sea breeze every now and again would hit me the same time the waves came crashing in for the abrasion, it feels refreshing somewhat. The stars stretch farther down the coastline and with the lack of boats on the water, it makes it seem like those stars are really in your face. 

…

I’m getting sidetracked. I came here to find traces of the meteor, not to lounge around and enjoy the sight of the night sky on the white sand. I frantically get back up to my feet. There has to be some proof that the meteor landed here… Looking at it realistically, some fragments would’ve washed upon the shore… or could they have been eroded? Ugh…! Goddamnit! Calm, Joseph, Calm! You’re not going to get anywhere or make progress if you just keep mindlessly walking and thinking in the dark. Grr… 

I continue to stroll along the beach hoping to find something out of the blue, like a glowing piece of rock that broke off from the meteor, or some encapsulating multi-coloured ripple that stood out from the black water of the night… 

However, I am left to no avail of anything that resembles the meteor. Maybe I have set the bar too high on this one… Just like all my other ambitions…

A wave of dread proceeds to course through my body. Is this the feeling of defeat? I feel like I can keep searching but the result would remain the same, ugh… there’s no point… 

I take a deep inhale before letting out a depressing sigh, blowing me down back onto sand. I lay here alone under the stars, at a loss for what my next move will be. Is it smarter to just switch my topic to something easier and more clearer? Something that has already been discovered by professionals? Yeah… I’ll probably just do that. Besides, you take one earful from Ms. Bregums, you take them all. I don’t mind getting screamed at and embarrassed in front of class. It isn’t the first time… 

I can’t think right now… 

I think I’ll just lay here for a bit… Take in the stars… and let the waves soothe me to sleep…