Tom stumbled down the alleyway, disoriented, alcohol muddling his perception of space. The brick walls seemed to alternate between rushing towards him and running away, and he kept bumping into them, bruising his shoulders and grazing his arms. He could hear the shouts of his friends in the distance behind him, almost...

The alley to the left seemed to be the only option. I couldn’t turn right; that led to a far seedier part of town, and straight ahead was an unassuming brick wall. I turned to face behind me, but returning was not an option, either. I knew what awaited me if I turned back. So, left it was, even though dread washed over me...