His eyes darted around the dimly lit room.  He knew it wouldn't be long before his hiding place was discovered.  The lone ceiling light hung horrible shadows across the walls, forcing the timid animal's heart to race even faster.  There, huddled in the corner of the room curling up as tightly as he could, he knew he was in trouble and it was only a matter of time.

The door suddenly opened, moaning slightly aginast old hinges and a tall dark figure of a man entered.  His eyes settled on the defensless creature huddled in the corner, guilt radiating from its soft features.  He then turned his head to view the cause of the animal's fright, anger boiling up inside of him.  Clouded by hatred he viewed the animal anew as if seeing it for the first time. 

The dog sensed the object before it made contact and scrambled to evacuate the area.  His tired legs could barely propel him away before the lamp crashed against the wall only inches from his body.  Desperate to get away from the rage filled stare aimed in his direction, he dove for shelter behind a couch.  Safety for now, but for how long?  Survival instincts firing as quickly as they could

The man's fury boiled over as he missed time and time again.  Surely he would have hit the animal by now but his anger caused his aim to skew.  His gaze followed the animal as it dove for shelter behind the couch.   Shelter that was short lived as he reached one large hand under the piece of furnature and hurled it end over end, finally settling in a newly formed hole in the wall.  There, trembling, cowering in fear, the dog stood. 

Looking through eyes as wide as saucers, his head downturned, he seemingly begged, pleaded, that his master not be mad at him anymore.  His small mind was only barely able to determine that his pleas would go unheard.  This was going to be his untimely end if he remained motionless for much longer.  Renewed determination filled his leg muscles as he coiled and lunged as hard as he could for the door which lay open to the outside, to freedom.

He reached with both hands for the cause of his rage but the creature managed to slip through his grasp.  Giving chase after the animal at full speed he was right on its heels.  He would overtake him in moments.

Without looking back, he knew he would be caught.  Fleeting visoins of his happier days passed before him. 

Success crawlded over the man's face right before his foot bumped into an overturned end table.  He tumbled to the ground hitting his head hard with a  mighty crash against the unforgiving tile floor.  Slightly disoriented, he watched through half closed eyes helpless now to satisfy his blood thirsty desire for vengence.

His last ounce of strength pulsed through him, his body heaving from exaustion, he ran faster then he was even physically able.  He crossed threw the threshold of the open doorway and out into the freedom that was hidden in the darkness of night.  Relief passed through him as he turned to face his new bright future.

Just before consciousness left him, he heard the squuealing of rubber tires losing traction on slick roads mixed with the helpless sound of a small animal crying one final time.