Chapter One
Run!
She focussed her energy and ran as hard as she could. The torrential rain made the dark alleyway slippery underfoot, but she was fast and agile enough to keep a strong footing. Faster! The footsteps behind her became faster and more urgent. Closer. Closer. It would be any second now.
'I can keep this up all night,' she thought, 'how about you?'
If she couldjust lead them out into the street, out into the open, then she would know. Would they follow? How far would they go? How bold would they possibly be?
She ran out of the alley, skidded around the corner and headed into the main street. Glancing quickly behind her the young woman saw no one. In particular, she did not see the smartly dressed man walking towards her at speed from the opposite direction, with his umbrella up and his head down against the rain.
As she turned back, the impact knocked them both sprawling headlong into the road. She lay dazed for a second, her head spinning from its collision against the asphalt. Pulling herself up on to her knees, she shook her head in an attempt to clear her vision. Urgently scanning the street behind her, she saw no one out of the ordinary; her pursuers seemingly vanished into the night. She turned to the man who had accidentally collided with her to see him already back on his feet and regaining his composure with absurd quickness.
"Are you OK?" he asked her kindly as he helped her to her feet. "I'm sorry, I'm normally very observant, but not tonight it seems!" He smiled as he dusted down his muddy jacket and trousers gently with his hands. "Are you alright?"
Again, her eyes searched the alleyway before turning back towards him.
"Yes, thank you." She nodded and started hurriedly down the street, hugging her jacket around her against the rain.
"Are you sure?" he called out after her. "It's just that ... you looked like you were being chased?" The man motioned towards the alley.
She stopped and turned. Had he seen something? Did he see where they went? She surveyed his face for a second before deciding not to pursue it further.
"Erm, no, it …was …" she paused, uncertain of what to say next.
Sensing her awkwardness, he extended his hand towards her. "Ianto Jones," he smiled. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Kayla Stanford, and likewise," she said shaking his hand and wiping the rain from her face. "Ow! Dammit!" she cursed, giving a sudden shriek and rubbing her eye furiously.
"Are you sure you're OK?" Ianto asked.
Kayla looked up at him with her wet hand covering her right eye. "Yeah, I just lost a lens that's all," she said smiling.
"Can I walk you anywhere?"
Kayla was momentarily taken aback by the extraordinary kindness offered by this complete stranger. "No, its fine," she said eventually. "I'm nearly home, but thank you, Mr Jones."
"My pleasure. Good night – Kayla." He smiled as he turned and made his way down the street, retrieving his now broken umbrella from the gutter as he went. Kayla dropped her hand from her face to reveal her startlingly beautiful eyes. The left eye was a stunning emerald green, the other - a dazzling, mercurial silver.
"Goodnight Ianto Jones!" she replied quietly.