The short story below is based around the above photo by Pobble365 that was posted on Mindlovemisery’s Menagerie as part of their weekly photo challenge.

Unrecognised

David hits the ground and the air that what secured tightly within his chest escapes out in one quickly drawn breath. Stars explode around his head as he desperately tries to focus on what is and not what was, while the landscape before him is scarred by the brightly fluorescent colours that the many street artist who have left for future societies to witness their greatness.

He feels the impact many seconds after it lands on top of him, which is quickly followed by the putrid dead smell of its breath.

“How far did you think you would get before I found you? How far did you think you could run from me?” it hisses in his ear as its clawed feet dig into his back.

He grits his teeth and lets a rhythmic growl escape from the back of his throat. “M-Maybe I let y-you find me.”

It laughs boisterously, “LIES! LIES UPON LIES CHILD! FOR ME FINDING YOU MEANS THE END OF YOUR LIFE, SO TRY ANOTHER FACTOID NOT FILLED WITH YOUR LIES!”

“M-My life’s been over far longer than I’ve lived it. M-Maybe I’m ti-tired of ru-running,” David stammers.

Seconds hang in the silent air that blankets the small alleyway, before it slow shifts its weight off him. “How pathetic you are,” it hisses, and then he finds himself alone once more.