CHAPTER 27
As he reached the intersection, his thoughts were entangled in a world distant -- all immediate activities were left to fend for themselves. His focus was on what was ahead of him, with the abominable church just up ahead. But a fell voice came from the distance – somewhere beyond his zone of concern. But as he came to recognize it, it snapped him back to the present.
The night blanketed a group of boys huddled a few car lengths down the street. Unbeknownst to him, they stood there, hunched along the parked cars in the dark – watching him as predators; twelve eyes in search of prey.
“Hey, there’s that punk!” The words rung in his head, but they couldn’t be real. Not now. His legs continued their rapid pace across the intersection – not a sprint, but not a normal walki
