Chapter five
The tall sky rises provided little protection from the rain that pelted down from the black sky, but he didn't stop running. The rain trickling down his face and his back merged with his sweat. He was panting now. Soon he wouldn't be able to run anymore. Soon he'd have to stop. But until then he kept running through the maze of buildings that was before him. He needed to get away.
There was a small pot hole down the alley way. He caught the tip of his ragged shoe and stumbled forwards. He put his arms out to absorb most of the impact but, because of the speed he'd been running, his body was propelled forwards and slid across the gravel. Before he even had a chance to register the feeling of pain a dark shadow engulfed him.
Scuttling on his backside up against a wall, he assumed the foetal position, just waiting for the next blow to his beaten body. The shadow moved closer and leant down. He could feel the warm breath on his neck and it made his skin crawl. "Hello, son."