The cool night air greeted Maria as she squeaked across the lawn. She closed her eyes and focused on her tiring legs. They needed to keep moving, but they stalled and sputtered with strain from a lifetime of relative disuse. Whatever was out here, whatever had blown her aside like a leaf in the wind, whatever monster it was, needed distracting so the others had a chance at survival. She flinched with each step, certain something would rip into one of her limbs. After what felt like an eternity of running where nothing happened, she opened her eyes to see what was going on.

There was nothing at first. She looked around with frantic motions, still afraid to stop running. Then she saw the kids from earlier and realized they had not just already seen her but had watched the entire fiasco. They stood there, mouths agape, some laughing quietly to themselves, as she flailed about like an idiot. The pit of her stomach dropped out from under her. She felt like she was sinking, and her world was going sideways. Wait a minute. Her world was going sideways.

She had stumbled onto the sidewalk and right off the other side. Her wild flails pivoted her sideways, and she met pavement shoulder first, all while still facing the group. Their looks of horror, pity, and amusement seared into her mind. This was perhaps the most embarrassing thing she’d ever experienced. Closing her eyes, she tried not to cry. These were the people she had been chasing, and she had blown her first impression. This was far worse than being eaten. At least if she were dead then she wouldn’t have to feel this.

Maria rolled onto her back and looked up at the sky. Some hero she had turned out to be. Not only had she not helped anyone, but she’d blown any chance she had at getting into any of their good graces. All this work, and for what? Absolutely nothing. Tears welled in her eyes. She bit her lip and tried to sniffle them away. What had she been thinking? She’d put herself through all this for nothing.

A voice broke the silence. “I’ll catch up to you all inside. Someone needs to see if the mund is all right.” She heard his footsteps come closer and halfheartedly tried to play dead. He stopped right next to her and squatted near her face. “You doing all right down there? Nasty bit of a tumble you took.” To Maria his voice sounded like a bad British accent. He was mocking her. She deflated more.

She braced herself and let out a deep breath before opening her eyes to give him an indignant look. He looked down at her with a disarming smile, but his eyes betrayed his curiosity. Warmth blossomed on her cheeks. At once flattered and offended, she didn’t know how to react. She pushed herself up and just looked at him.

He wasn’t the wild looking one. This one was closer to her age. His outfit was less complex than some of the others, black cargo pants, skater shoes, and a black tee. Plain and unadorned. No fancy piercings. No crazy tattoos. Just some rainbow hair dye, black clothes, and the look of a concerned friend. He reached his hand out and helped her up.

“I guess I’m not too in too bad of shape.” She blushed and looked away from him.

He chuckled nervously and placed his hand behind his head. “You don’t look like you’re here for the rave, Red. You don’t mind if I call you Red, do you?”

“Only if you don’t mind me calling you Pride Flag,” she said and pointed at his hair.

He gave her a sly wink. “Like it? I never was one to be subtle about that.”

“Oh.” She didn’t quite feel so clever now.

“Serious talk though. What’s your name?” He held out his hand for a handshake. “I’m Rickard if that helps.”

She grabbed his hand and shook it. “I suppose this is where I say nice to meet you, my name is Maria?”

He nodded. “Certainly is. What brings you out this way late at night? You don’t seem to be the rave girl type.”

“I don’t suppose you’d believe me if I told you I was just out for a stroll would you?”

“Girl, the way you came running out of that building screaming would make me believe just about anything else. What the hell spooked you so bad?”

“You wouldn’t believe me.” Her mouth felt dry. This wasn’t where she was hoping the conversation would go.

“Try me.” Even by the dim light of the street lamps she could see his face grow serious.

She gulped. What should she tell him? It wasn’t as if she knew him. All she knew about him was his name, and that he was probably not into her. There just wasn’t a good reason to trust him. Yet, she was the one who had followed them out here. If that wasn’t trust, then what was? Studying his face he looked serious. Grim, even. The stress of worry written plainly on his face. She wanted to rebel and just lie, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. Finally she said, “Do you believe in monsters?”

He grimaced. “I wouldn’t go looking for monsters around here if I were you. It’s not safe.”

“Why not?” She sounded indignant, and perhaps she was. She’d made it here by herself. Anyway, who was he to tell her it wasn’t safe here? But when she stopped for a second to think about what had hit her, she shivered. She hadn’t been equipped to handle that, and that should frighten any sane person.

“You were the one screaming,” his eyes met hers and softened. “You tell me.”

She bristled. Rickard was being far too reasonable and concerned. Shouldn’t this be the point where he told her where she belonged and that such a place wasn’t a dark alley at night? No, there were females in his group. This wasn’t some standard societal boy’s club out here where women remained silent unless addressed. That upset her, for some reason.

Maria looked around uneasily and said honestly, “I don’t know.”

A flash of anger washed over his face. He opened his mouth to speak and then closed it as if thinking better of it. “You’re shitting me, right? You can’t tell me you were spooked by nothing. What did you see?” He reached over and gently took her hand. “Please.”

A lump caught in her throat, and she couldn’t speak for a minute. “I didn’t see it.” He nodded for her to go on. She tried to think. How could she describe what had happened? “I thought it was an empty building, and there was probably nothing in there.”

“But you thought there might be or you wouldn’t have gone in.”

She ignored that. There was no way in hell she could admit she had tried to follow them. “Only it wasn’t empty.”

“It’s only natural for things to hide in dark shelters. Humans are the most dangerous predator of all. Everything that goes bump in the dark knows that.” He smiled at her as if to reassure her.

“Yeah, I guess.” She looked around uneasily. It was difficult to keep looking into his eyes. “I just thought it would be safe. There wasn’t much of anything in the first room, but then I saw drag marks leading away and…”

“And you thought it would be smart to check it out?”

She shrugged. “I got excited. It was dumb of me, but I wanted to see if anyone was there. I followed the smeared dust to a door. When I opened it something hit me. It was like getting knocked by a linebacker, only smaller. Before I figured out what was happening, it had vanished. I never saw it.”

Rickard swept her into a hug. “You’re safe for now at least. I didn’t see or hear anything come out of there. That doesn’t mean it’s gone, though.”

They broke the hug, and she looked around nervously. There were plenty of places something could hide. “You’re right. Better stay with a group for safety then.”

He laughed. “There’s not much chance you’ll like where I’m going. You’re safer and better off going home. Dressed like you are, you’ve probably got a family who’s missing you about now. Maybe friends you ditched?”

She flushed with embarrassment. “The friends don’t miss me. I’m not sure I’d even call them friends right now.”

“Well, you can either leave to go somewhere on your own, or I can escort you. Boss man said not to bring any newcomers tonight.”

“Boss man? You mean the pale guy with the dreads?”

Rickard’s face dropped. “He wasn’t with us when we found you. How did you know about him? Were you following us?”

She flinched. “I’m sorry, I just thought you all looked interesting.”

“This isn’t the place for munds.”

Great, here’s where the sit back little girl spiel kicks in. Maria rolled her eyes in frustration.

“I’m being serious. It’s dangerous out here. Weird things happen after dark and anyone not in the know isn’t safe.”

“Then show me the ropes. If it’s safe for you, then you can teach me.”

He shook his head. “It’s dangerous for me too, but I signed up for this knowing what’s going on.” He looked her over, “you look more like you belong in a church service than out here. I’m telling you no for your own benefit.”

“And because whoever your boss is says no, right?” She threw up her hands. “I’m not just a defenseless little girl. I can make my own choices.”

“So can I,” he said almost shouting, “and right now I’m choosing to tell you to run home to safety.”

Rickard didn’t wait for her response before turning and running into the second building she had examined earlier. Someone opened the door to let him in, and light poured out into the street.

The turn of events stunned her. He’d been so friendly and forthcoming. Then this? She would not let it end like this. He couldn’t keep her from following him, and now she wanted to more than ever. What was so important in there that the blue-eyed wild man wanted to keep outsiders out?