035 POV escape The Man alley 752

I run for my life. Literally. I don't think I've ever literally run to save my life before now. My heart heaves in my chest, my semi-numb legs spin beneath me, propelling me forward at an incredible clip. I move so fast I barely feel my feet touch the ground and it's as though I'm floating. A screech of tires comes from the end of the alley behind me where the man pulls up in my car. He winds the window down, leans out, aims his gun at me and ... Pop! Pop! Pop!

Three shots hit the wall a few feet from my head, spitting up chunks of concrete shrapnel that graze my cheeks. I hunch as I keep running, expecting another volley of bullets, but instead a squeal of car tires echoes behind me as the man drives quickly away. 

As I run it dawns on me that he's trying to cut me off at the other end of the alley. With this in mind, I stop, turn on a dime and return the way I came. The rev of my car engine echoes into the still night air as the man drives manically around the block, hoping to catch me. By the time he reaches the other end I've made it back to the start of the alley.

Although the far end of the alley is incredibly blurry to me, I recognise the outline of my car. When he sees that I have reversed course he does a sharp U-turn and gives chase, returning the way he just drove. 

I'm unsure what to do. Should I keep running down the street, or return down the alley? I quickly figure that if I run the alley he's going to double back and chase me to the other end, by which stage I'd have to run back. If I do this enough times he's going to wear me out. I'll have no energy left to run at all.

I decide to keep running down the street. I cross the road and turn left down the first street. If I try to make it to the second or third streets down I run the risk of him seeing me. As soon as he's got eyes on me, that's it, he's got me. I consider banging on one of the entrances to the myriad warehouses I pass, but figure that at this hour it's highly unlikely anyone will be there.

I hurry down the street as the rev of my car engine gets closer. I duck down in front of a parked towing truck and wait, thankful for the moment to catch my breath. I didn't realise just how hard I was running until now. I hear the car stop, its bright headlights illuminating the street. I stay as still as possible, willing him to drive on, and after a few moments he does. I peer out from the truck, coast clear, I continue running down the road. But after only another twenty yards I hear the squeal of car tires and the sound of my car driving back to the start of the street. 

I take cover in front of a graffiti covered mid-sized delivery van. I'm hidden well enough that I'm sure he can't see me just yet. I hear him driving this way, slowly, presumably checking potential hiding spaces that he passes. 

As he drives past my position I stand so the van is between us and my feet are obscured by the van's rear wheel. The car suddenly comes to a stop parallel to the van. I hold my breath, willing him to drive on. A weak light shines this way, presumably a flashlight from a cell phone. 

Shadows dance on the gutter by my feet. After a moment, seemingly content I'm not here, the man drives on. I stay hidden until the car reaches the end of the street where it turns onto the cross road and disappears from sight. I wait until the growl of its engine fades from ear shot.

I finally breathe out and take a moment, orienting myself. My goal now is to get to Lucy, but I'm not quite sure which way the airport is from here. I look into the dark night sky and after a short time I spot the blurry lights of a plane coming in to land. I guess I'm probably two, maybe three miles away.      

I leave my hiding spot and start running. Hold tight Lucy, I'm coming.