Here they come. The first of the blows lands on my guard, and I hear a howl of anger from my attacker as the little bones in his fingers meet the bigger bones in my forearms. I catch the next two in the same way, retreating as fast as I can without turning my back on the crew. Thankfully, he’s the only one, so far, who’s joined in on this beatdown, but that might change.
Finally, he gives up trying to smash through my guard and starts searching for a way in. Mixing it up, the fists start flying in from above and below. I keep backing up, and he’s getting used to stepping forward with each attack. Some are getting around my elbows, hitting my ribs or my stomach, but I grin and bear it: he knows and I know and they know that as soon as I start hitting back, I’m fighting all of them. I can feel their devilish eyes watching us; I can even taste, I think, their desire to join.
I’ve been retreating awhile now, and I’m getting toward the end of the road. My heel graces the wall, and I know I have no place left to flee. Does he know? Does he see? I lean forward with a frame, jamming a forearm against his collarbone while opening my other hand and shoving him back with all my might.
Staggering back a half-step, he snarls, raising his elbow for the haymaker. I place my back against the wall and wait; the moment has to be perfect.
He swings, and I collapse, letting my legs crumple beneath me. The fist flies in just above my head, full force, driving itself into the concrete.
He screams, clutching at his mangled hand, as I step around him and make a break for it.
A cry arises, “Catch him!” as I sprint under the red glow of the “Exit” sign.
“Get him!” the high pitched wail of my attacker follows me into the shadowed corridor.
The things which are not men will follow me through the night now, chasing me until dawn, and I will run from them, a frightened rabbit, zigzagging through the maze of city streets. Only I can lead them, and if I’m fast enough, if I’m clever, if I can keep them running in circles after me, they will not even see the rising of the sun until it is too late.
Tale Told 