"Don't let him get away!"
A scant hundred yards separated pursued from pursuers. The boy stopped at the mouth of an alley, panic stealing logic as he glanced over his shoulders at the boys coming up quickly behind him. He darted into the alley, rounded a curve, and realized too late that he was in a dead-end. Boxes and trash were piled against the wall; a fire-escape beckoned invitingly just above. He scrabbled up the side of the pile, then realized his mistake as it began to shift beneath him. He leaped for the fire-escape ladder, his fingers brushing the lowest rung just as the pile collapsed, carrying him down and burying him.
"Where the hell is he?"
Hands started pulling at the pile, tearing away debris. The boy bit down on his lip, and closed his eyes against the inevitable.
"Hey, here he is!"
They grabbed him and pulled him out. A palm slapped across his cheek, forcing his eyes open.
"Okay, you little sneak. What's the big idea? Why'd you rat to the Principal?" He shook his head.
"Come on, dammit! Talk! You were talking enough yesterday!"
"Ah, you're wasting your breath. Come on, let's do what we came to do and get it over with."
"Okay, if that's the way you want it."