Shadowy Stranger

It had been an hour since Alex had been alone in his favourite bar. Liam, who had been enjoying himself with the ladies inside, had literally left Alex alone.

In a dark and destructive corner of the old cracked bar, Alex Thornfield sat in solitude, his piercing blue eyes brooding over the boisterous crowd. Soft shadows of candlelight highlighted his handsome features, creating a sharp contrast between darkness and light. The bright spotlight accentuated his slightly tousled black hair, adding a glint of mystery to the seemingly serene face.

From her carefully concealed position, she watched the crowd around her. People were engrossed in heart-warming conversation, laughing and enjoying the joy of the night. Soft music played in a melodious yet soothing way, immersing everyone even more in the activities of the moment.

But despite the colourful, laughter-filled atmosphere, Alex's piercing blue eyes never lost their sensitivity to danger. Like an ever-watchful eagle eye, Alex watched every movement and activity in the crowd. His expression was one of ingenuity and caution, as if he were part of the same world, yet separate from it.

Alex holds the almost empty whisky glass in his hand, sometimes raising it to his lips with a slight gesture. But rest assured that what people see in him is not the truth, for right now his attention is more focused on what others don't see.

As a detective, Alex is trained to read small signs and look for clues in the most unlikely places. Yes, let's say that nothing escapes his attention and nothing can pass him by.

For a moment, Alex's eyes were fixed on a point in the crowd, and he spotted a figure that seemed to be different from the rest. Alex sensed that there was more than just happiness on the man's face, like a dark shadow creating a deep layer of darkness. So his detective instinct spoke, guiding his sharp blue eyes to dig deeper into the figure.

Of course, as a frequent customer of this bar, Alex recognised the faces that often appeared in this bar. It wasn't just the patrons that Alex recognised, even their great-grandparents, Alex knew that! It was just that today there was an unfamiliar face that caught his attention with a strange charm.

A man in a dark coat and a flat hat sat alone at a table at the far end of the room. He seemed detached from the excitement that filled the air, as if he carried an invisible weight on his shoulders. Strangely, Alex felt an ineffable bond with the man, as if an invisible thread linked the two of them.

Alex's instincts told him to take a closer look at the man. Under the circumstances, his detective eyes never stopped moving. He saw the man order a drink without saying a word to the waiter, just a hand gesture that symbolised a deeper closure than just physical loneliness. Alex's detective instincts told him there was something hidden behind the man's blank stare, and for some reason Alex felt compelled to reveal it.

With quick movements, Alex grabbed his empty whisky glass and rose from his chair. He crossed the room with steady steps, overcoming the cacophony of the crowd who seemed oblivious to his presence. He felt the man's eyes on him as he approached the table where the man sat in his solitude. And as Alex drew closer, a hint of a mysterious smile crossed the mysterious man's lips.

"May I sit down?" Alex asked kindly, his voice deep and authoritative. The man slowly turned his head, his dark eyes staring intently at Alex. There was something deep behind those eyes, a layer of darkness hidden in his mind.

"Please," the man replied in a calm voice, although there was a mysterious tone to it. He snapped his finger at the empty seat opposite him, inviting Alex to sit down.

They sat in silence for a moment, like two people sizing each other up. The air was full of secrets that hung between them, like a thin mist obscuring their vision. And while the crowd around them moved on, they were like two souls trapped in different circumstances.

Alex felt that this meeting was the beginning of something greater. Something deeper and more complex than what appeared on the surface. He was ready for this new journey to begin, into the deeper shadows, between the layers of darkness and desire that lurked beneath the false peace.

"This meeting feels like fate intertwining," the man finally said, his voice lower than before. His eyes showed deep wisdom and experience.

Alex simply nodded, realising that this man had more secrets than met the eye. "My name is Alex Thornfield. I'm a detective," he said, introducing himself, withholding some of the truth.

"Detective?" The man shouted with a mocking look in his eyes, but introduced himself anyway.  "Call me Remy," he said with a deep look in his eyes that gave the impression he had more names and stories behind him.

For a few moments, the two fell back into silence, looking at each other. It was as if they were digging deeper into each other without language.

As the night wore on, the old bar became even more mysterious. The dim light from the wall lamps created just the right atmosphere, mixing shadows with unspoken obsessions. Alex Thornfield remained seated in front of Remy, his blue eyes staring deep into the man's dark ones.

"I have never seen you before. But I sense that you are very familiar with the city," Alex said in a low voice that gave Remy the feeling that Alex was interrogating him.

Remy nodded slowly, his lips forming a small smile. "Isn't that right? I'm just like you, I move among the shadows that lurk behind everyday life. Perhaps it's because we've never met and greeted each other that you feel I'm a stranger to you."

Alex smiled. Now he was even more certain that the figure in front of him was not his neighbour. He must be a creature of the night like himself. "What clan is he from?" Alex's mind wondered as he looked at Remy.

"Can you hear me Alex?" Remy gave Alex a deep look, as if contemplating the unspeakable. "I don't think you need to tire your brain. You'll find the answer yourself?"

Alex gave no answer to Remy's question and statement. He just smiled and rubbed his nose - a habit he had when he was researching something.

Remy, feeling that there was nothing more Alex would say, finally decided to stand up slowly. He felt this was the right time to end his conversation with Alex.

"We'll meet soon, Alex. " Remy said in a low voice, signalling his belief that fate would bring them together again.

Alex smiled mysteriously, a smile that exuded an aura of unbreakable secrets. "I'm damn sure."

With steady steps, Remy left the old bar, leaving behind Alex, who looked calm, but in reality was full of questions and curiosity about Remy's figure. Silence again filled the place they left, as if it held secrets that had not been revealed within its walls.

"What are you doing, A?" Liam Callahan - Alex's best friend and partner in the private detective agency Alex had set up - greeted them.

"Have you seen me talking to someone?" Instead of answering Liam's question, Alex asked Liam back.

"Wait! Are you talking to a ghost in this bar? Where is it? Where is she? I want to see her too!!!" He babbled, enthusiastically turning his head from side to side in search of the invisible being he thought was Alex's interlocutor earlier.

"She's right next to you!" Alex said suddenly, making Liam, who was actually a coward, spontaneously jump in fear.

" You only deal with human cases. Your guts are not big enough to deal with this invisible stuff!" Alex mentioned and then walked away, leaving Liam to chase after him.