I heard a loud cry. I snapped my eyes open and quickly jumped up too fast and hit my head on one of the branches under the tree.

"Ouch." I whispered as I rubbed my head. How long had I been out here? I heard the shriek again, longer this time. I spun around looking for the direction it was coming from. I squeezed my eyes shut and listened one last time, before deciding where it was. The docks! It was only a mile away.

I started running towards the cause of the noise. The wind began to pick and it eventually started raining. Lightning flashed, giving lightI pulled the hood over my head and continued running. Whoever this person was, I was going to help somehow. I couldn't explain why, but I felt a burning desire to help out this person. What good person wouldn't want to? Don't get me wrong, I sure as hell was scared. But I shook away the thoughts and began to pick up speed.

Half way there.

I entered a street full of antique shops and old furniture stores. I clung to right side of the street, fearing to be in the middle of the street by myself. I passed store by store until a bolt of lightning flashed so bright that the whole street lit up at once. I shot a fearful glance to the store next to me, and saw costumes and masks occupying the window. Some were so real it looked like they could get up and walk out of the store. One of the masks caught my eye. I slowed my pace and peered into the window as the lightening struck again, revealing a half-faced mask lying in the window. An air hole vent was provided for the mouth and only one eye was left for seeing.

I knew that face. I knew it. But I didn't have time to think about that now.

I raced to the end of the street and slowed as I peered my head around the alley that stood before me to the docks. I saw stirring movement. I couldn't see anything until the occasional lightning flashed. I heard muffled cries of a 15 year old girl, not much younger than me. There were three men surrounding her.

I began to work up the courage to say something, but my feet felt plastered to the pavement. When of the men rose up their hand threatening to strike her, and that's when I couldn't take it anymore.

"STOP!"

I jumped into the clearing of the alley. 15 feet away from them.

The gang jumped and turned their bodies towards me. The gang backed away a few inches from the girl. "What the hell do you want?" The larger of the three shouted.

"Get away from her." I said as sternly as possible, but even I could here my own voice shaking.

Deciding I wasn't a threat, they turned their backs to me and one of them slapped the girl in the face. I felt the heat rush to my face and then I felt the adrenaline rush over me. I found myself pick up a stray brick as I ran towards the gang. I stroke the leader in the head as hard as I could. He cursed and fell over.

The other two reached for me as I blocked their attack, leaving them feet away from the girl.

"RUN!" I commanded. the girl took off.

I watched her leave and turned around just in time to get slammed in the face. I fell against the brick wall of the alley and slid down it hitting a puddle on the ground with a thud. I opened my eyes and saw the other thug ready his foot in for a kick, but I grabbed his foot and twisted it until I heard a loud crack. He screamed in pain and fell over clutching his leg. I stood back up ready to fight only to be blown down again. Everytime I tried to stand back up I was only pushed back down. I didn't think about what would happen if I couldn't get away. I was too worried that the girl would get away safe. And now I was stuck lying in the middle of the alley with three thugs surrounding me.

"HELP!" I screamed at the top of my lungs.

"Come on hero. If you could save that girl, then you can save yourself." The leader mocked as he picked up my body and effortlessly threw me against the wall again.

My face hit the wall with such force I was knocked out for seconds. I rolled over to my back and I woke up to one of the thugs saying, "A leg for a leg!"

He grabbed my leg as I screamed my head off. "Get OFF OF ME! GET OFF OF ME!"

He started bending it in a deformed way. I struggled my leg free and looked up into the sky. I continued screaming for help. I couldn't fight off these guys alone. The thugs eventually broke my leg. I tried blocking out the pain but it didn't work. I lied there on the ground feeling the rain hit my body. Feeling the thugs beat my body. Feeling like I was going to die.

And then I heard heavy footsteps fill the alley.

And through clenched teeth someone growled, "Step. Away. From the girl."