Neal counted backwards from 100, all the way to zero, he did this to distance his mind away from fear of the unknown.
But this approach backfired, his heartbeat pounded in his ears, echoing louder than everything else. He felt it before he heard its movement. Under the street light he could a see a lean shadow rising in size, twisting unnaturally.
The evil entity attacked first, its bony hands whipped towards his shoulders, left marks like a sharp rake, causing great discomfort and he could feel tingling across muscle and bones.
Neal jerked forward to escape another imminent attack, dodging a few more punches, he jumped backwards with force, and launched a desperate counter, his elbow connected connected with the ghost's skull.
Feeling nothing behind his body. Neal sighed in relief. But it was all for naught, as it just dissolved for a moment, only to reappear closer, still behind his body.
Immediately the ghost launched another strike, this time around it aimed for his neck. Neal ducked low, but the extra fat around his belly betrayed him like a traitor, lowering the speed of his descent, the phantom's fingers grazed the nape, sending a shiver of pain down his spine.
He swung blindly over his shoulder, hitting air, avoiding the incoming attack on the ankles, he jumped in the air, landed safely on the ground, slammed his body backwards, connecting just enough to stagger its figure.
Pain flared as another ghostly hand targeted his spinal region, slamming into his vertebra like a battering ram.
"Oh my god. I might never walk again. I don't want to spend my entire life in a wheelchair. Have to find way to escape this deranged lunatic."
He staggered forwards, knees buckling. Reflexively, he used his elbow to strike backwards, knocking out nothing but air.
Trying a different approach, Neal instantly made a 180° turn, and tried to grab the thin wrist of the shadow attacking from behind. Just like before he touched nothing, the phantom teleported behind his body. And its next attack came even faster than before.
The phantom seized his arms from behind, twisted them both so much that he heard a sickening crack. The ghost had indeed broken his arms. Both limbs were bent at odd angles.
Neal screamed obscenities at the ghost, cursed the world for always being against him, and even went too far back in time and thought that if his mother had aborted him in thefoetus, then he wouldn't have to suffer through such great pain.
It moved its attention away from his limbs, letting them both go, the red-eyed ghost shifted its cruel intentions towards his shoulders, spine and neck. Each punch caused him great pain. But he endured these soft attacks.
Before it could grab his head. Neal immediately dropped on the ground, rolled forward on the empty road like a bowling ball, and desperately tried to escape from its clutches.
Each forward movement was an attempt to roll as far away from the ghost, but he could feel his presence behind him, gliding sliently, waiting for a botch, and then it would launch its precise attack.
There was no hint of emotion in its red eyes, there was only madness. Neal could never have a one to one conversation with such malevolent spirits who immediately attacked without giving a prior warning.
Finally after a hundred near perfect rolls, he spotted the glow of the internet cafe near the bookstore. The neon sign glowing above the private establishment attracted his attention — Open 24/7.
This distraction caused him great distress, as he missed his next roll, fell forwards, his entire upper body smashed his arms onto the concrete.
The damage was worse than before, this time his both arms wouldn't heal instantly.
Avoiding another deadly attack, Neal got up from the ground, further damaging his arms, he ignored the mind-numbing pain, and desperately ran towards the NetCafe.
The malevolent spirit jumped, Neal's neck was just inches away from its hands.