He took a shortcut through a back alley to get to his friend’s house. suddenly, he realized he was being followed.

He sped up, but he heard footsteps going faster as he went. He broke into a sprint. He ran for what he felt like was forever, and had an idea. He took a shortcut through the alleyway by his mother's favorite restaurant, and hid behind the dumpster. He couldn't see anything, but he could hear fatal footsteps as the man ran past the dumpster. He stayed hidden for a moment, just to be sure. About a minute later, he got out from behind the fish-stench-covered dumpster and ran home. But this time, he made sure he wasn't being followed.

Hey there,

He took a shortcut through a back alley to get to his friend’s house. Suddenly, he realized he was being followed.

Answer : This is a very extreme situation.  Try to walk on quickly and towards a busy place.Get to your friends house as quickly as possible. Try not to look back and make it obvious that you know they are there.

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I believe it is: by describing the narrator's distress as he tries to figure out where he is.