Terrified, the pizza delivery man rounded the corner and backed up against the wall of the alley. The side of the building was damp and cool to the touch, but did nothing to ease the fear that threatened to engulf his consciousness.
His arms shaking, he heard a siren in the distance, and was uncomfortably aware of the stench. He could hardly tell if it was from the panic, or from the alley. Either way, it smelled like desperation. His fingers clenched tightly through the rough nylon loop of the insulated pizza bag, and he could feel the limp weight of the pizza within.
He could feel the thumping of his heart through his ears, and gasped for breath while trying to listen for pursuit at the same time. His breath caught in his throat as he heard the rhythmic clicking of nails on pavement - the hunter had found him.
He felt his bladder release and a warm trickle start down the leg of his polyester work pants, the physical sensation jolting him from his stupor and kicking his muscles into action. He tore off down the alley, dropping the bag to the ground, moving with incredible speed for such a short, stocky body.
The bag settled into a shallow puddle of half-water, half motor oil, and the alley fell silent for a moment, before the clicking began again, accompanied by a low snuffling.
A dark grey lhasa apso suddenly appeared, wraith-like, from an adjoining alley, claws clicking sharply against the pavement with each step. It eyed the pizza bag hungrily, and wagged its tail happily, before sticking its head in to savagely devour the unfortunate pepperoni, piece by piece. None survived.
Next time, you won't be so lucky, pizza boy.
His arms shaking, he heard a siren in the distance, and was uncomfortably aware of the stench. He could hardly tell if it was from the panic, or from the alley. Either way, it smelled like desperation. His fingers clenched tightly through the rough nylon loop of the insulated pizza bag, and he could feel the limp weight of the pizza within.
He could feel the thumping of his heart through his ears, and gasped for breath while trying to listen for pursuit at the same time. His breath caught in his throat as he heard the rhythmic clicking of nails on pavement - the hunter had found him.
He felt his bladder release and a warm trickle start down the leg of his polyester work pants, the physical sensation jolting him from his stupor and kicking his muscles into action. He tore off down the alley, dropping the bag to the ground, moving with incredible speed for such a short, stocky body.
The bag settled into a shallow puddle of half-water, half motor oil, and the alley fell silent for a moment, before the clicking began again, accompanied by a low snuffling.
A dark grey lhasa apso suddenly appeared, wraith-like, from an adjoining alley, claws clicking sharply against the pavement with each step. It eyed the pizza bag hungrily, and wagged its tail happily, before sticking its head in to savagely devour the unfortunate pepperoni, piece by piece. None survived.
Next time, you won't be so lucky, pizza boy.
moira:
Glad you liked my first set, belated thanks for your comment! x