EXTRACT FOR
The Alley
(Anna Mann)

How she had ended up wandering so far into the belly of the beast Dee couldn't say, and at three in the morning that part of the city could be described as a beast. During the hours of daylight and industrious activity it always had a threatening aura, that was the time when the narrow alleys were filled with surly kitchen staff taking a smoke break or tattooed delivery men pushing sack trucks or trolleys. But when the shops and restaurants closed the alley became the domain of vermin, both animal and human. Under flickering lights rats and roaches ruled, hissing spitting cats and half-starved stray dogs that that would fight to the end for rotting scraps filled the shadows... but far worse and far more dangerous were the men. Lurkers, flashers and perverts... Mostly drunk, and many high they haunted the shadows and darkened doorways, disturbed and dirty men, men detached from the real world and the confines of morality.

And I'm right in the middle of it now Dee thought as she glanced nervously over her shoulder for what might have been the one hundredth time, she couldn't be absolutely positive but she sensed she was being followed. One wrong turn had been enough, in the darkness the alley had looked so similar to one that she used during the day, a short cut from the main shopping street to the edge of the suburbs. Dee had considered the time and the risk, but cutting through here reduces the risk she had thought, the buses had stopped running hours earlier and the streets were devoid of taxis. The alley would cut a huge loop from her walk home, and during the day it wasn't that bad, it was the rear access to a few nice shops, dress shops and florists, a cafe or two, just normal businesses... safe and sanitary. But of course Dee had assumed wrong, the alley may have looked the same but in reality it was a very different place and headed in a totally different direction. The alley she wanted to be on was just a couple of minutes long at a brisk walk, the alley that she was on was much longer, and narrower, and it branched onto other alleys rather than streets, and little did she know that it was taking her deeper and deeper into the slums... and passing right through the red light district.

"I can just turn around and retrace my steps." she whispered after five minutes spent at a nervous jog, it was then that the eighteen year old caught a glimpse of movement behind her. Instantly her heart had jumped up into her mouth and her stomach had rolled in her belly. I'm being followed she told herself and peered deeper into the shadows where the ephemeral figure had melted away. He's watching me now, he moves when I move. For a second longer Dee considered her options, go forward or turn and face him, maybe try to dash past and then sprint back to the main street.

Dee shook her head slowly, the alley was narrow with barely space for two people to pass. There is no chance I can get past him she decided. Nervously she had peered ahead before convincing herself the only option available was to push on and hope that the alley would soon join a major street with lights and traffic and people. 

A couple of times she'd been tempted from the straight path by bright lights, always assuming the illumination signalled civilization she turned aside only to find that she had been lured by halogen security lamps. Always the path back was closed to her, fear drove her forward and deeper into the maze.

Looking over her shoulder she had not seen a figure step from the gloom to block her path. He had positioned himself under a dim lamp blocking the way. Now what do I do? Dee asked as panic began to well inside her. Face the man behind, or the man directly in front of her. Through her fear logic arose. I don't know who is behind, but I can see who is in front, and this guy is old and frail. Behind me might be a giant body builder or a deranged maniac with the strength of ten men. But this one I can handle she decided as she took a hesitant step forward.