[Hei didn't leave room for curses, he moved, darting from tree to bush and over hedges and flower beds. He tried to shake the feeling of something that hovered around him, but it remained elusive, sticking like oil.
It slowed his movements.
Hei could hear Conrad behind him, but he resisted the urge to look. That would prove futile, and slow him down even more. Gritting his teeth, Hei kept running, zigzagging as best he could, bending only briefly to pick up a stone from the path. Listening for Conrad, Hei threw the stone, barely turning his head to see out of the corner of his eye. If it struck, that would helpful, if not...