I should have known better, walking through that dark alley by myself, but I was in a terrible hurry to get to the grocery store and get home in time for my favorite television show. It was a shortcut, and I made it through just fine on the way there, so carrying my bag of groceries in front of me like a protective shield, I jogged through the darkness. Darting around a jumble of stinking garbage bags I was almost through when strong arms grabbed me from behind and clamped a hand over my mouth, stifling a scream.
I dropped my grocery bag and began to struggle.