by Eve Redstone

Created on: June 08, 2008   Last Updated: June 14, 2008

Anna shivered in the cold night air and hugged her coat closer around her body. She hated being out at this time of night. It wasn't fair that she was expected to go out at in this weather on her own. It was freezing. She thought that tonight some one else would have gone, but no one volunteered.

The rain glistened in puddles under the intermittent streetlights. They seemed further apart than usual, and she scurried between them, her stilettos echoing in the empty streets. Momentarily she thought she heard other footsteps and she paused, but no, it was her imagination. In the distance she could hear the noises of the customers from the local nightclubs as they were thrown onto the streets to continue their affairs and arguments. "No chance of a taxi then." she thought, they'd all be in the town centre.

It was funny how quiet these streets were at this time of night, and only half a mile away neon lights were flashing and people were partying and making noise as if this world didn't exist. She hugged her coat closer again and sped up. Ahead the lights seemed to be even further apart, some of them must be out. "Great," she thought, "My lucky night". Now she was sure she could hear footsteps behind her. The soft tread of worn trainers, trying to move silently but swiftly after her. She risked a glance behind her but could see no one. "Great, still my lucky night."

"What to do, what to do" she muttered to herself. The well-lit streets were behind her, and even further off in front of her. No one in these run down terraces would even twitch a curtain if they heard a noise, hold that thought, no one would help if they saw something happening in their front room. They'd probably move for a better view of whatever reality show they were watching on the television. She had lived around these streets all her life and knew the occupants well; they were her people after all. She knew the back alleys and lanes as well and that could help; maybe her pursuer would know them too.

"Concentrate, concentrate." She thought. There had been a spate of assaults and missing persons in the neighbourhood recently. There were bound to be extra police patrols even if they weren't advertising them. She would keep an eye out for cars, especially cars with two people in them.

A plan was forming in her mind and then she heard the footsteps again. Definitely closer, she turned, no one there. If it was just some lonely soul wandering home from a night out they would have no reason to hide, but she

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