06-19-2015, 06:44 PM
Dane stumbled across an open space that he took for a road in the chaos of the town. He ran along what seemed an endless stretch of cement block walls higher than he was tall. A simple flick of power would let him barge through, but the power slipped through his fingers. The continual failures sent him into near panic, especially with the menacing presence growing closer and closer.
He rounded a parked car. Locked, but he would hide in the back seat if possible. Then past a pair of rolling metal doors. The buildings were all attached to one another. The only windows were high over head. The few at ground-level were barred.
A tree and a long stretch of iron gates with spikes piercing the tops. More cinder block buildings. A wooden gate, locked from the inside. He wanted to scream! But every door he checked slowed him down. The presence grew closer until he was sure they were able to nip at his heels.
Finally, a light illuminated a slim arched window, too narrow to crawl through. An open courtyard placed the building off the street. Wide arched doors were positioned in the center. It was folly, but he checked the gate and gasped when it swung freely.
He stumbled inside and rammed his shoulder against the door. The wood gave way and he all but fell inside his sanctuary and fumbled to close the door behind him. And lock it.
Sweat ran down his face, stinging his eyes as he backed away from the door like the moment he peeled his eyes away his stalker would burst in.
The outer gate swung again on rusty hinges, and shaking he made himself turn. He was shocked to find himself in a church.
Two women and four men looked up from their prayerful posturing as he ran down the main aisle yelling for help. "Hide me! Hide me!" He yelled, but they went wide eyed and scattered.
Behind him, the main door burst and broke from its hinges. The assailant strolled through the dust. The parishioners screamed and ran, but Dane yanked the sleeve of the nearest woman and flailed behind her, shoving the woman ahead of himself.
"Let her go!" The stalker ordered in broken english. Dane backed away as he hunched behind her, peering around her head. The stalker was a young mexican man in heavy pants and a ragged shirt. A machine gun was wrapped around his torso, but held at ease at the moment. His hands were raised high, but a scowl of hatred twisted his face in contempt.
The others had escaped out a side door by the altar. Dane did not think his chances were favorable to reach it.
The woman, older and weaker as she was, wrenched herself free of Dane's weakening grasp. Without her weight, Dane tripped forward and fell to his knees. He scrambled for the power that was his shield from fear but it was far from reach. Tears leeched from his eyes and he crawled off to hide between two church pews.
He rounded a parked car. Locked, but he would hide in the back seat if possible. Then past a pair of rolling metal doors. The buildings were all attached to one another. The only windows were high over head. The few at ground-level were barred.
A tree and a long stretch of iron gates with spikes piercing the tops. More cinder block buildings. A wooden gate, locked from the inside. He wanted to scream! But every door he checked slowed him down. The presence grew closer until he was sure they were able to nip at his heels.
Finally, a light illuminated a slim arched window, too narrow to crawl through. An open courtyard placed the building off the street. Wide arched doors were positioned in the center. It was folly, but he checked the gate and gasped when it swung freely.
He stumbled inside and rammed his shoulder against the door. The wood gave way and he all but fell inside his sanctuary and fumbled to close the door behind him. And lock it.
Sweat ran down his face, stinging his eyes as he backed away from the door like the moment he peeled his eyes away his stalker would burst in.
The outer gate swung again on rusty hinges, and shaking he made himself turn. He was shocked to find himself in a church.
Two women and four men looked up from their prayerful posturing as he ran down the main aisle yelling for help. "Hide me! Hide me!" He yelled, but they went wide eyed and scattered.
Behind him, the main door burst and broke from its hinges. The assailant strolled through the dust. The parishioners screamed and ran, but Dane yanked the sleeve of the nearest woman and flailed behind her, shoving the woman ahead of himself.
"Let her go!" The stalker ordered in broken english. Dane backed away as he hunched behind her, peering around her head. The stalker was a young mexican man in heavy pants and a ragged shirt. A machine gun was wrapped around his torso, but held at ease at the moment. His hands were raised high, but a scowl of hatred twisted his face in contempt.
The others had escaped out a side door by the altar. Dane did not think his chances were favorable to reach it.
The woman, older and weaker as she was, wrenched herself free of Dane's weakening grasp. Without her weight, Dane tripped forward and fell to his knees. He scrambled for the power that was his shield from fear but it was far from reach. Tears leeched from his eyes and he crawled off to hide between two church pews.