Freya looked left and right before crossing the road. It was a main one and was normally bustling about. If you wanted to cross it you had to hope some sympathetic young driver would pause whilst you ran across praying to God that you wouldn't die.
But it was nearly eleven at night and the only vehicle was the odd motorbike speeding at ninety miles an hour.
Once the road was crossed Freya had to navigate through a maze of back alley-ways that were dark, dank and scary. Freya hated walking home like this.
Her hands tightened into stiff fists when she saw a mysterious hooded figure hiding in the shadows. She had to stop herself from whimpering like a little girl when she saw there were others. She breathed out slowly in relief when they let her pass, but screamed when she heard the gunshot.
One of the men behind her had a gun. Someone had shot at her.
"Shut up! They found us now" Someone yelled at her. Then another gunshot further off made her scream again.
Her eyes darted around crazily, and she panicked again when she saw another dark figure appearing from the direction of the gunshot. Her pulse calmed ever so slightly when she saw it was an old man.
"We need to get out of here!" Freya half-called, half-cried. "We're stuck in the middle of some gang war!" He smiled sadly.
"I know. I've come here for you, because in perhaps two minutes, Kevin Carter will shoot into the darkness with his Desert Eagle pistol and accidentally shoot you in the neck. You will be dead instantly, unless you come with me"
"Why?" Freya's legs were shaking. She needed caffeine and a sit-down. "I-is there s-somewhere we c-can hide?"
"If you take my hand I'll take you away. You won't die…but you'll have to leave your family and friends behind. Five other people will be killed in this shooting."
"But I can't leave! Uh…My A levels!"
"I'm sorry Freya. You do have a choice. Here, you'll die. Or you can come with me. It won't be a life, not a proper one, but…" Freya took a steadying breath. Gunshots were echoing around near them now. Freya grabbed his hand.
"Quick" She whispered.
