Simon, Rebecca's brother, hurried through the alley, his heart pounding in his chest. He knew he was being followed; the ominous footsteps echoing behind him were proof enough. Desperation gnawed at his insides as he quickened his pace, but it was futile. Suddenly, he found himself cornered, surrounded by a group of men, their faces obscured by shadows.
"You thought you could run from us, Simon?" a gruff voice snarled, sending shivers down Simon's spine.
He recognized the voice instantly—the leader of the loan sharks he loan money to swallowed hard, his mind racing for a way out of the predicament. But the walls of the alley seemed to close in around him, trapping him in a nightmare he could never wake up from.
"I-I'll get you the money, I swear," Simon stammered, his voice barely above
