Member-only story
The Stone
Rushing through winding roads to slink around the orange glare of streetlights overhead, he stopped periodically to check for pursuers. Holding his breath to listen, his body blended from view for a moment before stirring to move on again. He stepped around an oily, rainbow-hued puddle reflecting a dark, ominous alley. He always felt safest between two, tall buildings.
Up ahead, a chain link fence stopped trespassers from approaching the back entrance to a greasy restaurant. This was only an invitation for a moment of fun for Joey. He stepped up once, twice to the top of a dumpster, then kicked off a grip point to plant his left foot on a brick window sill. From here it was an easy vault to spin like a top over the barbed wire with his feet tucked in and arms out at his side. He landed a bit loud for his taste, but was satisfied enough to grin as he pulled his hood back up over his head.
That’s when he heard the footsteps and hushed voices echoing lightly behind him on the other side of the fence. He allowed himself a quick glance back to glimpse the inhumanly tall shadows sliding over uneven, faded bricks. His grin turned grim once again as he pushed on past a plump, pimply dishwasher on a smoke break, slumped on a milk crate by the open kitchen door. Joey cast a steel glare at the startled boy and slid by without a word.
