The torturous heat and putrid stagnant air was eerie and sickening as I cut through the alley. The smell of rotting garbage carried by steam emitted from god-knows-where had me second-guessing my choice of shortcuts.
Halfway through my journey the sound of a shrieking cat and the tipping of a trash can startled my nerves…I jumped. Spinning around I caught a fast moving shadow streak across the alley.
I had enough I thought, turning and running for my life back to the relative safety of the crowded thoroughfare. Saving a few seconds travel certainly isn’t worth risking it all.
~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~
Dom DiFrancesco 
Great job. I’d agree, better to go through people then get mugged or something.
Absolutely…thank you Mandi.
Nothing can scare the sense into somebody quite like his own imagination ! ; ) (and watching the evening news )
You are absolutely right…on both counts.