"Hello? Is anyone there?"

I look at The Other, but it doesn't move. The voice is high-pitched and soft, unsure of itself. The lights, which had been switched off, flicker on and I hear footsteps coming from the other side of the hall.

Of course there's a back door to this place!

"Should we hide?" The Other asks. Even though its back is to the door, it hasn't turned around. Perhaps it doesn't percieve whoever this is as a threat.

"They've heard us. If we run, we look like we were breaking in. Just... don't say anything."

I walk around The Other just as the back door to the hall opens and a woman steps through. She's about my age, mid-twenties, and has long strawberry blonde hair tied in twin braids over her shoulders. She's wearing jeans, converse and a flannel shirt over a T-shirt with some band name on it.

"Oh, hi. Can I help you?"

I fold my arms over my chest. "Sorry we were just..."

I flounder. What were we just doing?

"We were just curious as to what a Quaker Meeting Hall looks like," The Other says, stepping around me and giving her a tight-lipped smile.

She must have good instincts, because she instantly recoils back a step and rubs her arms as though every hair has stood on end.

"Well, it would be better if you came on days we had meetings," she says, obviously trying to mask her discomfort. "I forgot to lock the door behind me when I came in. We're not actually open right now."

"If you're not open, then why are you here, dearie?" The Other tilts its head to the side.

"Hey, don't-"

"It's alright," she says, putting her hands in her pockets and hunching over a bit. "I'm just staying here for a few nights for... a thing. Nothing important. But in any case, the two of you should leave now. It's late."

"May I ask your name, dear?" The Other asks.

I reach out and grab its elbow, ignoring the way the bottom of my stomach drops out at the contact. It wasn't like The Other made a move towards her, but there's something in the air that screams danger. Like the moment when a fly gets caught in a web before the spider reveals itself.

"Chloe. What's yours?"

The Other looks at me. "This is Soren."

Chloe looks between us, me with my hand on The Other's elbow in a tight grip, and The Other just standing there, smiling inanely with a smile that doesn't reach its eyes.

"Nice to meet you Soren. And... your friend is?" Chloe's eyes dart between us.

"He's..." I start. "It doesn't matter. We're leaving."

I tug on The Other's arm, but it doesn't move. In fact, it's impossible to move. It's like its bolted to the floor completely.

"Oh, do I appear as male to you, love? Fascinating."

I can't pull harder without making it clear that this is even more wrong than it is. Chloe is already digging hard into her pocket, no doubt reaching for her phone to call the police and get them to take away the two definitely suspicious individuals that have broken into her place of worship at 9pm at night.

"Are you in crisis right now?" Chloe asks. "We can call for help."

"That would be lovely, dear. I think it would be a great idea to call in the cavalry."

And then The Other smiles in a way that he probably thinks is disarming, but only does one thing - displays its second set of sharp teeth.

Chloe freezes, eyes wide, lips parted. A complete and total prey response.

"Stop that," I say, tugging hard on The Other's arm.

He snaps his mouth shut, suddenly looking sheepish. "Oops. Sorry. I forgot again."

I'm not so sure he did.

"What are you?" Chloe breathes.

She's shaking.

"I'm human," I say quickly. "Just an ordinary person like you."

"And him? What is he?"

"The Other, at your service, my dear," The Other shrugs off my grip like it's nothing to perform a sweeping bow.

"The... Other?" Chloe repeats, and then she looks at me as though expecting me to sprout teeth or claws or fangs.

I scowl at her. "Yes. Look, you've just happened on a very serious magical mishap and it's best that you just forget about it and get out of here. Far away, you understand?"

"Far away..." Chloe repeats, before her expression unfreezes and she frowns. "How far away is far away?"

"Oh, I imagine hopping the channel will give you a few weeks at least? But who knows really. If The Malginant gets access to an airport, then you're probably in serious trouble pretty fast," The Other says, rubbing his chin as he thinks.

"The Malignant?" Chloe shakes her head. "What is going on here?"

"Well, looks like even though Soren has no friends, we have our first ally," The Other says, patting me on the shoulder. "Because knowing about something means you have to do something about it after all. Are you sure you want to know Chloe?"

"Don't say yes. You don't want to be involved in this," I quickly intervene. "This is my mistake and my problem and I'll-"

"Yes," Chloe says, looking at The Other firmly. She's still shaking from head to foot, but she takes a step forward. "Tell me what's going on."

Stupid human bravery. A stupid girl in a stupid church who is making stupid choices despite not knowing anything about anything.

"Well, love, she wants to know, so how about you tell her all your failures and then we can wrap up this conversation and put our heads together and-"

The lights flicker.

"Perhaps actually we can do that later," The Other interrupts himself, glancing over his shoulder at the door. "Now might be a better time to make sure that all the doors and windows are locked."

"Why?" Chloe asks. "What's out there?"

The Other turns, walking over to the main hall door and putting his hand against it. The door shudders under its hand as a crashing bang echoes down the hall.

"The first of The Maligned. And an open door is an invitation."