The flash of lightning illuminated the street throwing everything into stark relief. One. Two. Thr... The thunder cracked and echoed between the buildings as Hermione sprinted blindly down along the left side of the alley and ducked into the doorway that her hand felt.
She squeezed herself into the recessed opening, pressing herself flat against the door at her back. Her chest heaved from both the exertion and fear, as her sight slowly returned. Momentarily blinded by the flash of lightning, she had run down the alley she had spotted a few minutes ago, hoping to make the doorway before she regained her vision. If she couldn't see, then neither could whoever was following her.
Who was interested enough in her to follow her in this storm? She hadn't done anything interesting enough to be followed for quite a while, and she hadn't been to this city before a couple days ago. So why follow her? And who? Unless it was because she went to see Holly Takagi.
Why would someone be interested in anyone going to see an old mage who was way past her prime. A prime that wasn't all that memorable in the first place. Very few even knew that the old woman used to be a mage; most knew her only as the proprietor of a small shop that sold flowers and various potted plants.
CRACK!
As quick as the flash of thunder itself, Hermione was running again. She was almost to the bridge when she dared look back...
But there was nothing there.
All there was was darkness, and the steady pouring rain.
She breathed a sigh of relief, which quickly turned to a strangled scream when she tuned around to see two red eyes right in front of her.
Without thinking she swung her purse strait at the eyes. It managed to collide with striking accuracy. The thing stumbled and gave Hermione enough time to run toward the bridge. She was almost there when the thing grabbed her from behind. Catching the back of her shirt it forced her to come to a stop. But gravity had other ideas.
When the thing had grabbed her, it had forced her to turn and fall... right over the bank and into the river.
Hermione hit the water with a splash that took her breath away. Then she started sinking... but she didn't have enough strength to fight. Everything went black as she sank deeper and deeper...