THE LIE
he spat before turning and walking away with his friend, their hurried footsteps fading into the night.
I lay on the ground for a moment, still trying to catch my breath, my heart pounding in my chest. Slowly, I reached out for the money, my hands trembling. The madman and his companions hadn’t moved. They just stood there, watching me.
Finally, I managed to speak. “Thank you,” I whispered, unsure whether I should be grateful or frightened.
The madman crouched down in front of me, his rough features softening just a little. “People like him don’t scare us,” he said and laughed crazily.