HE WAKES TO find himself on the ground. he hurts
all over, and he can't really remember what happened.
but he knows it was probably bad. his whole body aches,
and when he shifts, there's pain. he can't tell where, and
he doesn't really want to know. there's the smell of his
own blood, and it's coppery. he's aware it's leaking from
his nose, and probably various other places. forcing
himself to push himself up on one arm (the pain he feels
causing him to hiss, teeth grinding together). there's a
brick wall at the end of the alley and a dumpster,
reeking of trash. graffiti covers the walls, but nothing
really seems to stand out. finally, he has enough sense
to search for his phone, rolling onto his back slowly and
searching through his pockets. lucky enough, he still
had his phone. so he pulls it out (noting how it had
become cracked) and dials the police. it hurts to talk,
but he forces something out, his jaw aching.