Lena sprinted down the alley, her breath ragged and quick. The echo of her sneakers slapping against the pavement was swallowed by the night, but she knew they were close. Five shadows, sinister and persistent, pursued her. Their footsteps were a menacing rhythm behind her, a reminder that stopping was not an option.
"I have to lose them," she thought, her mind racing as fast as her feet. She jumped, fingers grasping the cold metal of the ladder. Her heart pounded in her chest as she pulled herself up, just as one of the men skidded to a halt below, his breath a visible cloud in the chilly air.
Lena crouched behind a large planter, her pulse in her ears. The men’s voices were a distant murmur now, but she knew they wouldn’t give up easily. Her fingers brushed against something hard—a forgotten gardening tool. It wasn’t much, but it was better than nothing.
"Hey there, little one," she whispered, a small smile breaking her tense expression. The cat rubbed against her leg, purring softly, a reminder that she wasn’t entirely alone.
Lena knew she had to move. With the cat at her heels, she inched towards the edge of the building, her eyes scanning for a safer path. The fire escape on the opposite side beckoned, a thin but hopeful promise of escape.
Lena took a deep breath and swung herself over the edge, her feet finding purchase on the rickety ladder. The cat meowed, leaping gracefully after her. As she descended, the men burst onto the roof, their frustration palpable. She didn’t look back.
"Almost there," she whispered to herself, determination setting her gaze as she disappeared into the waking town, her silhouette merging with the growing light.
