Emily

i could feel the wall against my back the cold bricks pressing into me as the second man flicked his cigarette away the ember hit the ground and snuffed out and i couldn't help but feel like it was a symbol of my chances dwindling to nothing the older man said something in a language i didn't understand his voice sharp commanding

The first man's grin faltered for a moment, then he reached out, his fingers brushing my arm. I jerked away, fear clawing at my throat. There was an opening, a tiny chance, at the end of the alley. Beyond them was an abandoned building with a gaping black doorway, and I knew that was where they wanted to take me. I couldn't let that happen. I couldn't end up in that dark, empty building.

The first man's grin faltered for a moment, then he reached out, his fingers brushing my arm. I jerked away, fear clawing at my throat. There was an opening, a tiny chance, at the end of the alley. Beyond them was an abandoned building with a gaping black doorway, and I knew that was where they wanted to take me. I couldn't let that happen. I couldn't end up in that dark, empty building.

The fear pushed me forward, and without thinking, I ducked under the man's arm and bolted. I heard them shout behind me, their footsteps pounding against the pavement as they chased me, but I didn't look back. I ran, my breath coming in short sharp gasps, my feet barely touching the ground. The darkness around me blurred, and the only thing that mattered was getting away.

The fear pushed me forward, and without thinking, I ducked under the man's arm and bolted. I heard them shout behind me, their footsteps pounding against the pavement as they chased me, but I didn't look back. I ran, my breath coming in short sharp gasps, my feet barely touching the ground. The darkness around me blurred, and the only thing that mattered was getting away.

The flickering streetlight ahead was my only guide, and I pushed myself toward it, praying that I would make it out of the alley before they caught me.

The flickering streetlight ahead was my only guide, and I pushed myself toward it, praying that I would make it out of the alley before they caught me.

i sprinted as fast as i could my heart pounding in rhythm with the frantic thud of my footsteps the men's shouts echoed behind me but i didn't dare look back the narrow alley seemed to stretch endlessly and i couldn't shake the feeling that they were closing in on me their shadows reaching out like fingers ready to drag me down

i sprinted as fast as i could my heart pounding in rhythm with the frantic thud of my footsteps the men's shouts echoed behind me but i didn't dare look back the narrow alley seemed to stretch endlessly and i couldn't shake the feeling that they were closing in on me their shadows reaching out like fingers ready to drag me down

i could hear the pounding of their shoes growing louder my fear spurring me on even as my muscles burned with exhaustion the night seemed to tighten around me dark and suffocating the flickering streetlight ahead my only sliver of hope i had to make it i had to reach that light Suddenly, I saw it. A gap between two buildings, just wide enough for me to squeeze through.

i could hear the pounding of their shoes growing louder my fear spurring me on even as my muscles burned with exhaustion the night seemed to tighten around me dark and suffocating the flickering streetlight ahead my only sliver of hope i had to make it i had to reach that light Suddenly, I saw it. A gap between two buildings, just wide enough for me to squeeze through.

It was a gamble, but I had no choice. I darted to the right, throwing myself into the narrow space. The rough brick walls scraped my shoulders, and I pressed myself flat, holding my breath. The sound of footsteps thundered past, and I waited, every second feeling like an eternity.

It was a gamble, but I had no choice. I darted to the right, throwing myself into the narrow space. The rough brick walls scraped my shoulders, and I pressed myself flat, holding my breath. The sound of footsteps thundered past, and I waited, every second feeling like an eternity.

their voices filled the dark alley angry and confused but they didn't seem to realize where i had gone i squeezed my eyes shut praying they wouldn't find me my body was shaking my breath shallow and quick but i kept as still as i could willing myself to disappear into the darkness

their voices filled the dark alley angry and confused but they didn't seem to realize where i had gone i squeezed my eyes shut praying they wouldn't find me my body was shaking my breath shallow and quick but i kept as still as i could willing myself to disappear into the darkness

after what felt like an eternity the footsteps began to fade i opened my eyes peering out from the shadows the alley was empty the men nowhere in sight slowly i inched my way out of the gap careful not to make a sound my body ached every muscle tense and ready to bolt again if i needed to

after what felt like an eternity the footsteps began to fade i opened my eyes peering out from the shadows the alley was empty the men nowhere in sight slowly i inched my way out of the gap careful not to make a sound my body ached every muscle tense and ready to bolt again if i needed to

i scanned my surroundings my senses on high alert i needed to get to safety and fast the main road was still a block away and i knew i had to move carefully i stuck to the shadows every sound making me flinch my heart pounding in my ears i couldn't let my guard down not yet

i scanned my surroundings my senses on high alert i needed to get to safety and fast the main road was still a block away and i knew i had to move carefully i stuck to the shadows every sound making me flinch my heart pounding in my ears i couldn't let my guard down not yet

after what felt like an eternity i reached the main road the neon lights of a late-night diner blinked in the distance and i felt a wave of relief wash over me it wasn't much but it was something a safe place a place with people I hurried towards it, my legs trembling with each step, my breath still shallow. I pushed the door open, the warmth and light of the diner washing over me like a blanket.