I was walking all by myself. Alone, in the darkness. All I could hear was the dry leaves crunch underneath my foot. The wind was rustling through the trees around me. It was a hot night, and very humid. I was heading back home after a long night. There was a taxi coming towards me. I signalled for it to stop. I laughed quietly; my mates would probably have said I was a wimp catching a taxi, like a girl. I went inside; it was warm and stuffy and felt very uncomfortable. I told the driver my street so I could go home.

We had been driving for a while now and I was about to tell the driver to take the next corner. When he suddenly slammed on the brakes and my whole body shook. I looked up at him. Was he mad? Why wasn’t he turning towards the house?

“What’s the matter? Why did you stop the car?” I asked

“I cannot go any further from ‘ere” the man replied.

“Why not?” I asked. This was weird; very weird.

“Jusht get out!” he yelled back at my face, waving his arms frantically like most Italians did.

“Fine I’ll go” I replied back.

My house was only a couple of streets away, so it didn’t really matter.

 I started walking. As I got further into the street, I heard noises. It sounded like people talking. I put my head down and tired not to look at them. As I walked past them I caught a glimpse of one of them. He was wearing a black hoodie and had a cigarette in his hand. He looked familiar, I was sure I had seen him somewhere before. I kept walking. I could still hear them, like they were right behind me. I slowly tilted my head to the left just to make sure they weren’t following me. But sure enough, they were. I walked faster and took a left corner. I was definetly sure they were there. Right, left,right,left. What was wrong with these people? What did they want from me? I started into a slow jog. Hoping they woud go. But they didn’t. As I turned a several times I had no idea at all where I was going. I started to run faster and faster. And suddenly stopped. I looked left and right. There was no way to turn. Oh no, dead end.

 All of the four guys were now closing in on me.One behind, one infront of me and one each of my sides. There was no way out. One of them grabbed me by the hand and the other pushed me to the ground, with my face in the dirt.

“Search him, pockets and everything” I heard the voice say. I knew who's voice it was. Alex Dawson. The leader of his “incredibly awesome gang”. I suddenly felt someone hitting me and punching me so hard. I felt pain all through my body. I felt weak, horrible and beaten.

“That’ll teach you for putting gum all over my clothes the other day” said Alex. I let down a low laugh. That day had been funny, but that's another story. I couldn’t speak at all. I knew they had taken my phone, wallet and all my other belongings. One of the other guys started dragging me towards the road. I tried kicking him and making a run for it but it was no use. They were to powerful and stronger than me. I felt blood trickle all down my leg and my head throbbing of pain. I couldn’t see, my eyes were all blurry.

“Leave him there on the road” Alex said. What?! What were they thinking? They couldn’t just leave me lying here. The gang started to run away. I knew why. There was a car heading straight towards me. I tried moving but I couldn’t. My leg was bleeding and it hurt more than anything else. It was getting closer. 20 metres. 10 metres. The bright lights of the car burned in my eyes. There were tears running down my face and blood everywhere. Then suddenly it happened, the car hit me.

“Zack! Zack! Wake up!” my mum said shaking me frantically. There was sweat running down my neck. What had happened? Where was I? Where was the car? The gang?

“Hurry up! Or you're going to be late for your first day in senior school” my mum said.

“Ok! I’m getting up mum!” I said hurriedly.

Senior school? I thought to my self. I got up for a start, so all of that had been a dream? I had just seen my worst nightmare. It was scarier than the zombie movies my brother used to watch. But it couldn’t be a dream, it all felt so real. I got up for a start and pulled my curtains apart; and that's when I saw him. Looking right in my eyes was the taxi driver, looking at me and smiling just like the one I had seen in my dream.