12:31 am

Between the power outage and the hard, black clouds overhead, Seattle was little more than rain-slick silhouettes. The metallic drum of raindrops on dormant street lights competed with a barrage of echoing, hard-soled footsteps on the pavement. A pair of boots and a billowing black raincoat darted around a corner and under an awning to meet the front door fist-first. His slender but well-muscled hand pounded wet prints on the cheap paint. With a grimace, he clutched at his shoulder with his free hand. The blood warmed his icy fingers.

"Hello?" He shouted loud enough to be heard across the street, but received no reply. "Somebody, please -- open up!" He rested his wide back against the door, panting; his voice was hoarse with over a mile's fatigue. He released his shoulder and inspected his hand. It came away dripping crimson. "Fuck..."

He caught only a few breaths before he heard scraping in the distance. Without turning to look, he pushed himself off the door and took off again down the street.