Although they had only been running for a few minutes Decker's legs now started to burn, his hamstrings felt like they were about to tear open, but he carried on the adrenaline allowing him to ignore the painful signs from his body, which was trying to prevent injury. Erin and Young who were fitter were a few metres ahead, Erin leading the way. Lactic acid was flooding into Decker's old muscles slowing him down by causing painful burning aches, it was like someone was putting lead weights on his legs and, but panic kept him going.

The trio ran through the corridors of the old abandoned 17^th Century house, clobbering down the long warped floorboards, running from room to room, in the blue nightlight. The MJ12 troops were not far behind there pounding footsteps echoing down the house like a chasing wind. Erin climbed the staircase running, ahead Young awaited Decker who was desperately panting burning breaths.

"COME ON DECKS!" He let Decker in front of him while he checked the passage behind them, and then with his one hand firmly in Decker's back forcefully pushed him up the staircase. Every stumble Decker made, Young hoisted him to his feet and pushed him further up the winding staircase. Erin was at the top looking over the wooden posted banister, she looked down the eternal flights and grabbed Decker's exhausted body and pulled him up the final steps. Young kicked the fire escape door inwards and they all entered the final stairwell.

The MJ12 footsteps got nearer, tailing the fugitives like a preying shark. They were halfway u the stairwell as the torchlights crept into the dark void at the bottom of the stairs. Shiny helmets filled into the darkness looking like black crabs on a seabed. The torchlights lifted up and a volley of fire chattered upwards rattling through the metal staircase. Young returned fire from his pistol and the troops retreated to the safety of the doorway. Erin pushed the safety bar on the old fire door and the night air and noise burst into the musty stairwell. She ran out onto the roof. Decker grabbed Young away from the edge of the stairs and pushed him out the fire exit. Young beckoned him with his hand as Erin ran off into the distance. Decker fired down into the blackness then stepped outside.

As the night air hit Decker's lungs, he suddenly sensed something was not right, something was wrong, it niggled him in his mind. Decker felt dizzy, his head felt light and his vision was moving in slow motion. Young shouted muffled, Decker winced as he tried to work out what was said. Decker's tried to rum but his legs were heavy. He could not breathe properly, a slight tightness grasped around the centre off his chest.

Decker tried to keep with Young but it was like he was being held back by something. Young dragged Decker behind an old chimneystack.

"Decker............u.......kay?" Decker could see Young was shouting but it only sounded like a whisper. Decker took in a deep, exhausted breath and fell back against the chimneystack. A vomit taste rose in his mouth, polluting his tongue, as the bile flooded into his throat. Decker looked up at Young whose face had gone from a painful tired wince and turned into wide-eyed concern. Decker felt cold, sweat dribbled down the sides of his temples and itched his stubbly beard. Suddenly his left arm fell limp and the grip on his pistol loosened. The compressing pressure returned in his chest and his breaths turned wheezy. Decker's jaw locked and a sharp pain crawled across his back. Decker was having a heart attack. Young slapped his cheeks gently as Decker's eyes rolled around in their sockets.