I feel awkward and out of place here. My shoulders are hunched, my dark gray hood up covering my down turned features as I move through the quiet of the street. I can feel them looking at me through their shiny just polished windows, judging me, despising me. My keen blue eyes are downcast, not daring to look up. I know they're hardly out at this time of night. They're all inside their cozy homes, sitting by an immaculate fireplace watching TV on their big screens and laughing at the ignorance of those who can't afford the same.

I glance up and immediately wish I hadn't. Through a shiny store window to my right theres a man staring at me and I swear his eyes look red. If I look at his mouth too long, I swear there are fangs where straight teeth should be because he's grinning at me, almost daring me to come inside. I gasp and move a little quicker, not daring to look up again. I can feel the watchful eyes again, like someone is keeping tabs on me. I've felt it in other places of this town but never more strong than it is here. I pull my hood up further, trying to hide my face better.

"Hey, you! Stop right there! What are you doing in this part of town?"

The voice is deep and taunting. Adrenaline is rushing through my system before I even lift my eyes, fear obvious in the blue gaze that finds the hooded man standing before me. He looks strong and sure and his eyes look cold and cruel. I feel frozen to the spot even as he walks toward me, his hand going to something at his back. I can already smell the metallic of a knife. He wants to hurt me? But why? What have I done? Am I not supposed to be here? I take a hesitant step back and that does. He whips the blade out and throws it expertly toward me. My eyes widen, watching as if in slow motion but then instinct takes over.

In a flash of black and scarlet fur, a fox darts the closest alley. My heart is in my throat as I dodge and dart down the alleyway, sure that he's on my tail. When I find the closest hole I can squeeze through, I do so, knowing that he'll have to find a way around the wall and I'll be long gone by then. Once I'm sure I've lost him, I stop by the back door of a shop, my sides heaving as I try to catch my breath. I'm panting, my tail tucked as I try to figure out a next plan of action. But then I take a deep breath and my stomach rumbles. What is that? My nose starts twitching and I find myself peering through a crack in the door. Fresh meat hangs by hooks and I can feel the cool breeze flowing through. Someone's freezer is right through this door. I lick my chops, unable to help myself.

A few minutes of scrabbling at the hole and I've got a big enough hole for me to slip on through. I'm not the biggest of foxes, after all. I stalk over to the nearest hook, ready to jump up and grab a piece but then I see the tail end of some sausage hanging off a table. Much more convenient so I grab the tail end and go to town. I've got about three quarters of it eaten before I hear foot steps coming and I know whoever owns this is not going to be pleased. Grabbing the rest of the sausage in my mouth, I race to the hole and climb out, racing down the alley with my winnings.

Once I've gotten to a safe place, I settle down and take a breath. My stomach's not rumbling anymore so I know I'm not going to want to eat the sausage but I also know that it might be a while before I get a chance like this again. Whoever owns that place is going to have the hole boarded up or fixed by the next time I come through so I should probably eat it now to store up for the next time.