...
we simply borrow a bit from those who can afford it.
A crow screamed over Audric's head as he shot down another dark alley, his feet splashing through the puddles. The caw ment they were right behind him, so he tried his best picking up some speed even though he was already panting from exhaustion. Most of the times his mission did go well, but this time he had had some bad luck, so once again he was running away with his heart beating in his throat.
"Shit!" he hissed as he almost stumbled, but he managed to catch himself and even threw down a trash can behind him, but he didn't even manage to count to three before he heard someone kicking it away. He made random turns here and there, running completely on instinct as he tried to shake them off his trail. Unfortunately this neighbourhood was unfamiliar to him, so he had nothing to go on.
When he ducked down another alley, he came out in an open space enclosed by tall buildings on every side. When he couldn't see any way out except for the one he came in, all air went out of him. He was trapped. "Fuck," he sighed under his breath, already hearing footsteps down the alley behind. Reaching for his belt, he pulled out his knife and spun around just in time to duck away as a man cam running straight for him, knife raised.
He went for the man's right legg, kicking it hard enough to make him fall over and yelp with pain. Now, if there had only been one man chasing him, he would have been able to escape. But the next one was already coming at him, and Audric jumped back, the tip of the knife just inches away from slashing his face.
Fighting was not something he would say he was bad at, but he wasn't especially good either. Running away had been his thing, and so far it had been working out well for him. So when he saw there were four of them, he already knew he was doomed. The crow did its best to help him, flying down and attacking the back of their heads, but it didn't make much of a difference.
Audric fought as best as he could, a bit clumsily and stumbling around as the fight went one. One knife after another made contact with his body, leaving small cuts here and there. The men knew they had the upper hand and were laughing, having their fun with him as he didn't give up. Not until his knife was knocked out of his hand and one of theirs was plunged into his stomach.
He gasped and buckled over, falling down on his knees. Another knife stabbed him in the back, hitting right between a couple ribs. The pain was excruciating. He fell to his side and gasped for air, suddenly struggling with breathing. They must have reached a lung or two. His field of vision was already narrowing, and it seemed like the men's laughter were echoing all around him. The knifes were pulled back out and someone kicked the back his head before he heard them walking away, complimenting each other on their victory.
Audric's whole body was aching and he was shivering, all of the sudden feeling very cold. He was dying, he knew that, but the thing that bothered him the most was that he had failed his mission. It had been an important one, a lot of people depending on it, and here he was lying bleeding to death instead. He let out a last breath and slowly closed his eyes, and right before everything went black, he felt his feathery friend land on his head.