Lord Altard's heart stopped. His body jerked forward. The heat in his body plummeted. The sticky wall that loomed over him encased him in fear. He turned away from it. He took deep breaths, hollow and loud in the silence of the alley. The dim sun rays barely left its lingering touch of light.  
 
The tension in his body seeped away. He breathed in, the fear in his chest slowly gave way. He ran a hand through his matted locks, his signet ring glinting. He barely contained the small laugh that escaped his lips. He was safe. The words felt like a dream judging by his most recent experiences. He tilted his head back a bit, his lanky frame wavering to  the dance of the chilly air. A whistle from the distance came from further down the alley. With that, his sense of safety shattered. His breath rushed out in ragged gasps. Spams of heat flooded through his body. 
 
  He saw the outline of a figure in the  dark cloak. His alarm rose. He turned away and began to claw at the walls. The sturdy bricks stood against him. His hand slid down the moist surface. The hairs on his neck stood. The hollow footsteps resounded in his ears. His urgency increased. The...