-Excerpted from Robert Frost’s Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening

Chapter 1:  Promises To Keep

Shane had just emerged from The Planet and had walked around to the side of the building for some privacy and a much-needed cigarette when she was knocked down onto the sidewalk from behind.  Her hands flew out to brace her fall, scraping her palms and wrenching her wrists, but her forehead still smacked against the pavement with a sickening crack.  Dizzy and confused, she attempted to stand up; her legs weak and upper body swaying from side to side as she tried to catch her balance.

A painful kick ruined her progress, sending her back to the ground in a heap.  She rolled into a ball and wrapped her arms around herself, trying to ward off any more blows.  A hand grabbed the back of her jacket roughly, pulling Shane up with one jerky motion.  “Stand up, you little *****,” a harsh voice commanded, and Shane did her best to do so, figuring she’d better not do anything else to piss off her attacker.

She was unable to make out her attacker’s face, as he or she was standing purposefully in the dark shadows along the side of the building where the streetlights didn’t reach.  It was nearly pitch black, and all Shane could make out of the darkness was a tall, threatening figure in front of her.  She could, however, make out the metallic glint of the gun in the figure’s hand.  “What do you want?” she managed to say, each breath becoming more painful.

“It’s time for your comeuppance, *****,” the voice whispered hoarsely, sounding vaguely familiar.  Before Shane had time to ponder whose voice it was, the gun raised and was pointed at her.  She neither heard nor felt the bullet leave the muzzle and enter her head, but only felt a strange feeling of calm as she crumpled to the ground.