1-11-26
“I told you we’d get caught,” a shrill breath hissed from clenched teeth.
“Shh,” the other warned with a measured timbre low and below a whisper. “We aren’t caught.”
The two figures tightly tensed their backs against a red brick wall, inching further into the shadows and away from the flickering streetlight around the corner.
“Not yet, anyways. I told you this was a bad idea!”
Zipped lips and an air of focus answered in lieu of protest. An uproar of deafening barks broke the silence, freezing the pair in place. The intensity of the dog’s howling made it impossible to discern their exact distance. All they could tell was it grew louder by the second, joined by fast and heavy footsteps.
A rough and calloused hand groped the darkness, its fingers clasped softer ones and squeezed tight, pulling with urgency.
The inky back of the alley provided next to no options for the pair as they stopped before a tall stone wall and a decrepit dumpster.
Wide panicked eyes turned to a single opalescent one, furrowed and shining brightly. It darted toward the trash, reflecting back the little light there was.
Without warning, a low grunt swung toward the ground and a pair of arms dense with muscle wrapped around the other’s thighs. Dainty yet worn down sneakers lifted off the ground in one swift thrust upward and soft hands instinctively clung to the rusty maw of the dumpster.
Two golden beams of light swung left and right, cutting through darkness and illuminating the officer’s paths. A metallic thunking to the left riled up a ferocious row of barking from the dogs. They strained against their leashes, eager to follow the sound.
The handlers allowed them to pursue, turning into the corner and aiming a spotlight onto the dumpster.
Inside of the garbage, a small pair of yellow glowing eyes focused on the wanted two. Neither suspect dared to address them. The barking now reverberated along the walls of the dumpster, disturbing the hiding spot.
An ear splitting bang rang through the metal, forcing the third occupant of the bin up the sides and flying out the high ledge.
A screeching spitting yowl could be heard among the shouting of men, a clattering of flashlights to the asphalt, and the dogs barking rowdier.
One of the officers struggled as he screamed, “Get OFF’A me you stupid mutt! And you, do something, wouldja?”
The other man shouted back, “Whaddya think I’m doing? Dumb dog’s in the way! Back, I said GET back!”
The commotion crescendoed as the first voice hit the ground. Pained groans escaped his lungs and the barks died down to a whine.
“God’s sake, let’s just go home and get outta here. Goddamn cats in this part of town…”
The smaller of the hands hidden in the dumpster loosened their grip on the rougher one and the two let go of their breaths when the grumbling of the enforcers left the alley.