“Hey!” Daniel shouted, stepping out. “Hey! Stop right there!” The figure froze. For a fraction of a second, the stranger turned his head toward Daniel, but the deep hood kept his face entirely in shadow. Then, with shocking agility, the figure bolted to his feet, grabbed the tote bag, and vaulted across a low headstone, sprinting blindly into the fog toward the treeline.
“Wait! Stop!” Daniel yelled, breaking into a full run. He gave chase, but the stranger was younger and knew the terrain. By the time Daniel reached the side gate, breathless, the quiet back lane was empty. A faint tire screech echoed from down the road, fading quickly into the distance.