The Shadow that followed

I looked down the dark, narrow alleyway that lay before me, and I hated my fear. If only I hadn’t been so ignorant and taken the ride with my mates....

It was one last time I checked my watch. The wind was howling, drowning out the cars from the nearby road. I could still taste the alcohol on my tongue, and smell the stale smoke on my clothes. I had been to my friend's party; she had just turned 18. It was a good night and it should’ve ended differently

I shudder in the cool breeze as I start to walk. I hated this alleyway: it was so dark, cold, AND empty. It was the quickest way home, but also the most dangerous. I swallow at the memory, that there was a murder down this very alleyway five years ago. A girl had been found in a ditch that stretched it’s way by the side of the alleyway. The police said that she had been raped and then murdered. The very thought of being forced to have sex like that sends a shudder through me.

My parents forbid me to come down here, but what teenager listens to their parents.
I try to move swiftly, I can see the lights of passing cars on the street ahead, and my skin pricks.

I heard a sound behind me. A rustle of the golden autumn leaves which had so gracefully fallen in the bright sunshine earlier that day. I thought nothing of the noise that sounded behind me, but quickened my pace. I heard the sound once again. I wondered if I was being paranoid. To distract myself from the situation at hand, I thought of what I was going to do for the rest of the week. It didn’t work.

The thoughts which had passed through my mind came flooding back in. I felt sick, nervous, and agitated. I could feel someone’s eyes burning into the back of my head.

As I started to run, I could hear the pace of my stalker getting faster. By this time, tears were streaming down my cheeks, falling like rain in May. I was running as fast as my legs could take me. It was so dark I could hardly see a thing. I fell over a log and felt the sharp twigs cutting my hands.

My stalker's footsteps slowed. Feeling this was the perfect opportunity for me to make my escape, I scrambled back to my feet and ran faster than I had ever done before. I could hear the cars getting closer and closer. I was so close, yet so far away! What had I done to deserve this; to be followed by a mad man? Someone who wanted to hurt me.

I could see the light of the road at the end of the alleyway; the cars now getting louder and more frequent. How could I stop and give up now? But, I did. I stopped in the middle of the alleyway. I turned, and saw no-one. Suddenly, I saw a shadow coming towards me at an alarming rate. This was the end, it was now or never. I had to get across the road, to the safe lights of the city.

I knew there would be drunken and disorganised people stumbling out of the clubs, but, I also knew that I would be safe there.

As I ran into the road I heard the screeching of brakes all around me. I looked to my left and saw a car coming full throttle towards me. This person had no idea how to drive...

The last thing I heard was the sound of sirens off in the distance.

My senses faded away rapidly.

I knew I should have taken that lift…………………