“Up the stairs.” The harsh voice interrupted Hassan’s musings.Hassan wondered how his secret had been revealed, and by whom. Blood pounded in his veins from fear and the exertion of a five story climb up the back steps of an aging building with his captor. “We have to jump off this building onto the roof of that one over there. It’s the only way to get in.”

For the first time since leaving his apartment, Hassan looked squarely at his abductor’s face. The man had blackened his face to obscure his features.The man now pointed his gun into the gaping space between the buildings. Hassan stared back at the intense eyes gleaming from the dark visage. “There’s no way I can jump from this building to that one!”Hassan blurted.

“You can, and you will. Get a running start.” His captor pointed the muzzle at Hassan. “You go first.”