It was almost midnight when Chloe stepped out of the nightclub. She shuddered slightly at the chillness of the night air as she stood by the curb, looking for a cab. The road was almost empty. Only a few cars passed lazily.
"Ugh…" A low, muffled sound drifted toward her.
'What was that?' She flinched.
A chill crawled down her spine. She glanced around, but the street was mostly empty. Before she could make sense of it, the sound came again, softer this time, like a pained whimper.
Her heart skipped. 'Someone might be hurt.'
Drawn by a mix of fear and concern, she followed the faint noise down the dimly lit sidewalk. Each step she took made the groaning clearer, heavier, filled with agony.
"Uh…" The sound was unmistakable now.
She quickened her steps and found a man slumped in the dark corner near the boundary wall, half-hidden in the shadows. His body was tilted awkwardly, one shoulder pressed against the rough surface. Blood soaked the front of his shirt.
