Entice the Moon to Fall

Followed

Ella glanced behind her and saw that the two men who had stood beside her at the intersection were walking purposely towards her. She had already turned a few corners and it would be highly improbable that the men were following the same route. Ella felt the reassuring presence of the pepper spray inside her pocket and decided to quicken her pace. She jogged some distance and turned another corner, hoping that her pursuers would quit following her. After walking a short distance, she hazarded another look behind her and saw that the two men were back. They too had quickened their pace and from the hunch of their shoulders and their purposeful steps, Ella knew that they were indeed following her. She felt her pulse quicken and decided to jog the next several meters.

Up ahead, Ella saw two people who seemed to be talking to each other under the streetlamp. She felt some comfort seeing other people on the street. It was short-lived, however, as she saw them stand up straight to look at her direction. With their heads bowed a little and their headgear casting shadows on their faces, she could not clearly how they looked. She had the sense that they were waiting for her to reach them.

Ella heard the familiar steady clicks of the traffic controller and saw that the pedestrian light to her left had turned green. Instead of walking forward, she decided to cross the street to her left and walk on the other side, far from the two figures standing under the streetlamp. She sprinted to get to the other side before making a turn to continue walking her route. After a few moments, she looked behind her and was startled to see that she was still being followed. This time, there were four figures walking behind her as the two figures she saw under the streetlamp joined the other two men she saw earlier.

Ella thought of what to do. She was confident in using her pepper spray to get away from two pursuers, but her chances of getting away greatly dwindled if there were four of them. Making up her mind, she dashed forward as quickly as she could. Distance would be her best defense. She scanned the streets ahead, hoping to find an open coffeeshop or store where she could hide while she asked for help. Finding none, she kept her running pace and looked back. Her pursuers did not show any signs of giving up and had even gained some distance. Ella felt her pulse quicken, but she tried to stave off her panic by trying to remember any of the establishments that could still be open at that hour. She remembered the convenience shop just around the corner and hurried towards that direction.

As Ella turned the corner, her heart sank at what she saw. The convenience store was closed. The blue and red sign that used to be lit all night was turned off and the interior of the store was dark. On the glass door hung a ‘Sorry, we’re closed’ sign. Ella looked back and saw that the four figures who were following her were getting nearer. One of them raised a hand towards Ella. Then, they quickened their steps, their intent to get to Ella no longer disguised.

Ella’s eyes widened and she took a few steps backwards before turning around to run away from her pursuers. Up ahead, she was able to discern two dark figures standing side-by-side, ready to block her way. Ella readied her pepper spray and ran directly towards the two figures blocking her. As she got closer, she saw that they were two men in dark jackets and that they were looking at her as she neared them. One of the men raised his hand to signal to Ella to stop running. As they stepped forward, they raised their heads a little before light from a nearby streetlamp shone briefly on their faces. Then, they were once again under the cover of darkness, their faces hidden in the shadows.

In that brief instant, Ella thought she saw their eyes glisten like those of nocturnal animals. It happened too fast that she was not quite sure at what she saw. Distance between her and the two men in front of her quickly shortened.

“Stop!” shouted one of the men at her, raising his hand towards Ella.

Ella ignored the command and at full speed, tried to squeeze past the two men. As she reached them, she felt their hands on her arms and she was effectively prevented from running forward. She felt the steely hold on her arms and knew that she could not get out of them easily. Instead of struggling which she knew would only tighten their hold, she stood still between the two men.

Ella then faced her captors and smiled. “Oh, hello!” she said to them. The two men seemed surprised at the unexpected reaction from Ella and relaxed their grip on her arms. All of a sudden, Ella raised her hand and quickly sprayed the stinging liquid into their faces.

Caught by surprise, the two men cried in pain and held their hands on their faces. Suddenly free from the two men, Ella took no time in running forward as fast as she could. There had to be an open establishment somewhere. She needed to find someone for help.

All of a sudden, Ella sensed a black car come from behind her. It was heavily tinted and she could not tell who was inside. Frightened, Ella bolted into a run and turned the corner, different from her usual route. To her panic, the black car followed and started blowing its horn. The car’s strong headlights trained on the narrow street and then at Ella. Like a frightened deer, Ella leaped onto a narrow alley to avoid the headlights, knowing that the black car would not be able to follow.

The black car stopped at the entrance to the alley and continued to train its headlights at Ella. As Ella turned to run away from the car, she felt her heart sink as she saw the high wall at the end of the alley, trapping her with no chance of escape.