"Wait," Evanna called out as the little monk took off like a startled rabbit, one hand clutching the basket while the other bundled up his trailing robes.

His diminutive form disappeared from view amidst the foliage. Then silence fell, except for the susurration of leaves and trickling water.

"Are you...lost, miss?"

Evanna revolved on her heels to face the open-faced young monk who was standing not far from her. His clear complexion and perfectly bald head added to the friendly aura he exuded. Relief washed over her despite the raging headache.

"Um, yeah." She hastily bowed to him in greeting. "I ventured too far into the forest."

"I see." He motioned for her to follow him. "You look like you can do with some rest. Are you hurt? You have scratches on you."

"I'm okay, thank you," Evanna said, trotting up to him along the trail. "What is this place?"

"This is a forest monastery. Mahathero is out today, so only a few of us here." He glanced at her as he led the way. "What's your name?"

"Evie."

"My name's Bhante Samadi."

Close behind the monk, Evanna climbed stone steps that meandered up the rocky outcrop. A welcome breeze brushed her skin, and she paused to soak in the scenery. The pain in her head abated to a bearable thrum.

"Were you lost in there for a long time?" the monk asked.

"Not that long." She mopped her forehead with the back of her hand. "I'm so sorry about earlier..."

"Oh, that's alright. Our little Soma Thero gets scared easily."

They arrived at the old cottage, and the pleasant tinkle of wind chimes filled her ears. Two monkeys walked up to her on all fours. Her lips tweaked into a smile as she mouthed "hi" to them.

"How did you get lost in the forest?" he asked, ushering her inside. "Anyone looking for you?"

"It's a bit of a long story." She experienced a sudden pang of worry. "I actually do have to head back."

As she hurried in, the floorboards groaned infinitesimally under her weight.

The interior was cooler, and a faint fragrance greeted her—that of flowers and incense. It was fairly spartan with a low table, atop which sat a ceramic pitcher and white yunomi cups. Mats and cushions lay on the floor. Evanna noticed the shoe rack by the door and slipped out of her sneakers.

"I saw there's a road not far from here that leads to the city," she said, her eyes attracted to the indigo flowers next to the pitcher.

"That's roughly two kilometers from here. There's a tuk driver who often comes this way. He'll be happy to give you a ride if you want to go to the city." The monk surveyed her for a moment. "Will you be alright?"

"Yeah, I'm cool—thank you, Bhante." Her hand reached up to press her temples and faltered halfway. "When would the tuk be coming?"

"Hard to say..." He peered at her. "You seem upset, Evie."

It was like his observation triggered a switch inside, and the emotions she was holding at bay threatened to surface.

She composed herself with effort. "I—I have a lot of stuff going on."

"Help yourself to some flower tea." He motioned towards the pitcher on the table. "It's butterfly pea."

"That would be...nice." She looked down at her sweaty, dirt-coated hands. "Can I wash my hands, please?"

"Yes, sure. Come this way."

They went through a narrow door and emerged in an elfin courtyard. It was festooned with creepers and flowering plants that popped out from the carpet of grey pebbles.

As Evanna inhaled the sweet-smelling air, her curious gaze glided over two monks sitting cross-legged in one corner—so still that they almost blended into the scene. She dwelled on how young they were, and yet, they had voluntarily relinquished material comforts that she took for granted.

"Meditation must be so hard," Evanna mused out loud, padding along behind the monk.

"It takes practice."

"My mind's, like, all over the place. It's freakier than ever, 'cause of this—anyways, it's not just that. There are so many distractions. A place like this must help."

"It does, but you can find your peace wherever you are." Bhante Samadi smiled, dimples appearing on his round face. "It's a choice—letting external forces affect you or not. It's just stimuli...chaos."

A small pond came into view, fed by spring water that gurgled out of a crevice in the rock wall on one side. Her mesmerized gaze took in lotuses that bloomed above the water, attracting buzzing wasps.

"The mind is a potent thing. It's your sanctum. Most often, it compels you, distracts you...It's susceptible to the three poisons." He uttered a few words of Sanskrit. "Once you train the mind, you can unleash your true potential."

Evanna mulled over the words while her eyes wandered to a few grooming monkeys, who perked up as they passed by. "Monkeys seem to like this place."

"Yes, they come and go as they please." The monk's voice turned somber. "We tend to their wounds occasionally too. Some people throw things at them—even boiling water."

"Oh, that's so mean!" She watched the tiny face of a baby monkey.

"May all sentient beings be happy and well." He sighed and shook his head. "People say those words, but don't always mean them."

"But why hurt the monkeys? Oh, because they steal things?"

"Yes. In fact, this gentleman who's been visiting us recently..." He beckoned her over to what appeared to be a wooden water spout next to the pond. "He was here just this morning, and the monkeys had stolen something from his bag. We found it lying here."

Her brain started whirring. "Did he come back for it?"

"No, he hasn't come back yet. He's an...odd gentleman. He looks like he very much needed some peace in his life."

Evanna's eyes widened as a plume of excitement rose within. "His name's Nird? Or is it Rind?"

"Why, yes. Mr. Rind." He looked at her in surprise. "Do you know him?"

"I, um, was actually going to visit him."

"I don't like him," a child's voice interrupted.

She turned. The little monk approached them with uncertain steps.

Bhante Samadi chuckled. "Would you like to help Evie with the water spout?"

He nodded. "Alright."

"She's not a ghost."

"I know!" The child glanced at Evanna and quickly turned his red, guilt-ridden face away from her. "I'm sorry I ran away..."

Despite the thoughts that gyred in her head, she couldn't help the laugh that burst out.

Soon after, she was seated on a mat, one hand clutching a cup of bright blue tea with a flower inside, while she eagerly awaited more information on Rind. Bhante Samadi attempted to get her to air her problems, but she clammed up.

She squeezed a slice of lemon into the cup and watched the tea turn a vibrant magenta hue. Then she sipped the cool concoction, which doused her fiery headache.

A niggling entity in her subconscious suddenly took shape. Is Shane okay? Is he on his way back? Her stomach churned. He must be so freaked out, he wouldn't wanna be anywhere near you, Ev.

The little monk scurried up to her with a small pen drive in his hands.

"Oh, thanks." Evanna took it and looked up at the older monk, who sat farther away. "I'll, um, return it to him when I meet him."

"He'd like that. Is he a relative?"

"Oh, no, I just know him." She paused and decided to elaborate. "Something happened—something strange. I was trying to find out who knew about it. Then I came upon the name Adam Rind. Anyways..."

Bhante Samadi was lost in thought for a moment. "Adam's not his name."

"Huh?"

"He said his name's Novak Rind."

Seconds crawled by, punctuated by the little monk's pattering feet as he chased out a monkey.

"What?" Evanna blurted out, head spinning.

"Is that surprising?"

"No, no, I thought—never mind." She resisted the impulse to rub her temples as her brain cogs turned. Does he have a twin?

She took a sip of tea, trying to appear nonchalant. No, can't be a twin. No way there was another person in that house. Think, Ev! Rind had quite a few initials...But why use another name? Maybe in this universe he goes by the name Adam. But he might be used to Novak.

Her inner eye superimposed the photo in Rind's laptop on the memory of the man at the gas station. That must've been Rind himself. Adam Novak Rind. I've already met him!

"Evie?" the monk's voice said.

"Sorry, I zoned out for a sec there." She slackened her death grip on the cup and downed the rest of the tea. "I should be going. Thank you for the tea! You've been so kind."

"Oh, you should wait for the tuk."

"I'll just follow the road and get a trishaw or tuk or something."

Galvanized by her new theory and the pen drive in her possession, she quickly got to her feet to put on her sneakers. Maybe he was also on the way to Cape Valinia when you ran into him, Ev! He'd be here soon. What if he was going to Komoreby? No, just try getting back to his place!

"Evie, that's not a good idea," Bhante Samadi said, standing up with a troubled expression.

"I'll be okay," she chirped and added with a grateful smile, "I'm leaving then. Thank you!"

Without waiting for him to answer, she hurried outside and almost collided with the little monk, who gave her a sheepish grin.

"Can you point out where the road is?" she asked him with a smile. "The one that opens into the big road—which leads to the city?"

He nodded obligingly and scampered down a trail, Evanna at his heels.

They pushed twigs and branches out of the way and emerged onto a potholed dirt road that was just wide enough to accommodate a tuk.

"Thank you!" Evanna exclaimed, which elicited a grin in response.

"I can come with you," he said falteringly and threw an anxious glance behind him. "But I'm not supposed to wander too far..."

"That's okay."

She uttered a few words of farewell and hopped down to the dirt road.

As she walked at a brisk pace, heat rolled over her again. That was when she remembered that her wallet was in her backpack, which was in Shane's car. She pulled out her phone, hoping she could book a tuk and opt for cashless payment. Her eyes inadvertently registered the time. Holy cowsies!

Stuffing the phone back into her pocket, she quickened her pace. Then her ears caught the telltale sound of a vehicle approaching. The tuk! Yes!

Sure enough, an old, yellow tuk trundled into view, light glinting off its windshield. She watched as it skirted a deep pothole and juddered into others—all the while emitting a loud, sputtering rumble. It won't be much faster than walking looks like.

She squinted to catch a glimpse of the driver, who stuck out a rather scrawny arm by way of greeting. The vehicle stuttered to a stop some way ahead of her, just beyond a pothole.

Then Shane leaped out from the back seat. Her eyes almost fell out of her head.

"Shane!" Evanna's heart burst into a frenzied dance. "How did you—"

He surveyed her with the full intensity of his dark, impenetrable eyes—the effect enhanced by the frown etched on his face. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah..."

He let out a heavy sigh and took a step back, his hand making an agitated motion as if he was fighting off a facepalm.

Evanna stared at him, relief and awkwardness playing a tug of war in her head. She wondered if there was any way she could explain away the telekinetic ability now that he saw it plain as day, but she was just too tired to tackle the problem. Wait, what's he facepalming about?  Annoyance jostled its way to the forefront, aggravated by her cranky mood. She crossed her arms and glared at him.

As tension electrified the atmosphere, the tuk driver stuck out his head and looked from one to the other. "I go to the monastery. I'll be back, ah?"

The man gave them a cheerful wave and started the tuk, which roared to life with its infernal noise. It stoked the burgeoning fire in her head.

After the tuk disappeared from view, an awkward quiet stretched on between them.

"Evanna," Shane said in a forcefully calm tone, frown still lodged in place, "what are you doing?"

"What?"

"How could you run off like that? You actually got lost in the forest—"

"So what! " she retorted heatedly. "I'm here on this bloody road now, aren't I?"

"Evanna, this isn't Komoreby." His jaw tensed, and his voice rose a few decibels. "There are wild boars and snakes that could kill you."

She blinked, his display of agitation taking her by surprise. Wow, here I thought nothing could ruffle his feathers.

Evanna recovered and glowered at him again. "Are you mad at me?"

"Yes, I'm mad that you're so reckless."

Something cracked inside her.

"Well, I'm madder! I wasn't thinking straight! I have a lot of shit happening in my life right now—it's not just the bloody spider. Okay, the spider scared the living daylights out of me, but I'm just—" She took in a shaky breath as the dam that held back her emotions cracked further and the fire escalated into an inferno. "Angry! I'm angry I'm in this bloody situation. I'm freaking tired of these bullshit pranks and bloody drama and this gilded prison of a school and endless classes and having everyone breathing down my neck. I feel suffocated. On top of that, I don't know what the heck is wrong with me or what the heck is going on. It's like someone pulled the rug out from under my feet! Everyone's different, and I don't know who to trust. It's insanely scary. Way more than that spider. And I—"

A sob escaped her while her vision turned blurry. She balled her fists, trying desperately to restore the dam inside that had disintegrated to nothingness.

He moved—closing the gap between them in three long strides.

She instinctively spun away from him, swiping at her eyes. Her trembling hand came away with a sheen of moisture. A split second later, that hand was intercepted by his.

Before she could say anything, another sob broke through, sounding louder than it should amidst the rustling foliage.

"Are you trying to run into the forest again?" he asked quietly, hand coaxing hers to relax.

She sniffled.

"Hey, hey, it's okay..."

Evanna turned. He pulled her to him, arms wrapping around her.

Time seemed to stop. Then her tears fell, and she buried her face into his shirt.

"I just...want my boring old life back!" she managed between sobs. "I want to be back in Nuara. In my own world. I want my mom back. I want Ookie back. It hurts."

He just held her in his arms and stroked her in a soothing gesture. Evanna clutched his shirt while what felt like a tornado racked through her. The convulsive sobs agitated her sore back, and the headache hammered away in sync with the pain that pulsed out from submerged corners of her mind.

When the torrent of tears finally subsided, she was left with an odd sensation of numbness—a respite from the day's excitement. She took in a shuddering breath, her face still buried in the scent-infused fabric of his shirt.

A minute ticked by—and another.

Words floated into her ears, "I'm sorry."

For an instant, she was surprised by his proximity—his low, resonant voice reverberated palpably through him with every word. Then her mind registered the fact that her cheek was pressed to his hard chest.

"What?" Her weak mumble was laced with embarrassment, but she made no move to part from him.

"I'm sorry you're hurting," he whispered. "I don't know what exactly is going on in your life. Why you're trying to find this guy...or what that was back there. But I can relate to how it feels to be alone."

Evanna listened with wide eyes, absorbing each vibration that emanated when he spoke and the beat of his heart.

"The world can be—very unfair. It can pound you to the ground. You can try getting back at the world or you can choose to gather the pieces of your life and try healing." He paused. "It's easier said than done."

"Shane, what are you talking about?" she breathed.

"I'm talking about...being tough enough to not break and not giving in to darkness." His voice was so close that his breath tickled her hair. "You are that. You smile as bright as the sun and push towards your goal no matter what's thrown at you."

Her eyes brimmed with a secondary wave of tears. You ogre...

"And you don't have to be alone—I've seen you with Marilda. I'm thinking she's your...BFF?"

She suppressed a shaky laugh and fidgeted in his arms. "Like how Ash is your BFF. And Junho and Max."

He chuckled, the deep sound rolling into her. "Evanna?"

"What?" She hiccuped.

"And I'm sorry I was mad at you. I was just afraid something might've happened to you."

"How did you find me?"

A breeze blew over them, mussing up her loose tangles of hair, now adorned with leaves and debris. His hand reached up to her head and brushed hair away from her face. Her heart skittered.

"I was waiting for you," Shane said. "I didn't think you'd actually go deep into the forest. I thought you'd come back once you've had some time to calm down. Well, you never did. I went looking for you, but you weren't on the path. I found the monastery on the map and thought they'd know the forest well enough to help find you."

Evanna blinked and let out another hiccup. "No way."

"What?"

"No way you just told me what actually went on in your head..."

A chuckle broke out of him, and he shook his head. Her embarrassment now solidified into a formidable weight. You just bawled your eyes out into his chest, Ev! You just—

Evanna took in a tremulous breath and hiccupped again. "I'm sorry about all this!"

"It's okay," he whispered. "You need to vent once in a while. And then you need a hug."

As if to emphasize that point, his arms pressed her closer. Heat radiated out of her cheeks, and she suddenly felt weak. She tuned in to his heartbeat. Its rhythm was now steady and reassuring, lulling her into a blissful stupor. Is this what swooning's supposed to be like...

"And we'd have to get something for your back." His muscles tensed. "I can't believe she actually caned you over that."

What! How did you find out? She buried her face into him. "Thank you for staying."

"Did you think I'd just leave?"

"It did cross my mind."

He sighed again. Her heart skipped a beat when she felt a light pressure on the top of her head. Or did I imagine it!

Evanna relaxed her grip on his shirt just when his fingers started caressing her hair. Her eyes closed with a drawn-out sigh. It was all she could do to stop herself from purring. The bubble of the observable universe seemed to shrink to encompass just them. Her sensory perception blotted out everything else and concentrated in that bubble, and it was like all her worries and fears ebbed away.

"We should go," she managed to squeak and noticed the damp patch on his shirt. "Shane, your shirt's wet."

She aimed an anxious glance upward in time to see him close his eyes with a stoic look.

"It's okay," he murmured.

"It's just tears though—" A hiccup cut short her whispered utterance.

"Sh, don't worry about it."

She sniffed in response, followed by another hiccup. She hastily made to rub at the damp patch and stopped short. Are you trying to grope him, Ev! The heck are you doing! As if all the crap you've done today isn't bad enough.

"So, you visited the monks?" he asked, the muted rumble of his bass notes coursing through her.

"Yeah," she mumbled. "They were so nice."

"You must've given them a scare when you burst out of the forest," he mused in a tone that her brain now identified as playful. "All in black. Wild, red hair. Covered in leaves and scratches. Eyes dripping black too..."

She dabbed at her puffy eyes and scowled up at him.

He chuckled. "I didn't mean it in a bad way."

They were rudely interrupted by the abysmal noise of the tuk. As the rickety vehicle came within view, she wriggled out of his embrace while her heart keened in protest.

It wasn't long before Evanna was sitting next to Shane in the cramped back seat of the tuk, which jounced and lurched down the forest road.

"Lovers' quarrel, ah?" the driver said loudly over the noise, throwing a knowing look at Shane through the side-view mirror.

Heat rose in her cheeks, and she opened her mouth to say no.

"Yep," Shane replied.

What! She gawped at him, while the man let out a throaty laugh.

"Arguin' with a woman is like 'em licenses," the man said, indicating his phone that was rattling on a holder attached to the windshield. "Only thing to do is skip ahead and agree."

"Wise words..." Shane murmured.

Evanna rolled her eyes.

The tuk went over a particularly bumpy patch of road, and she almost heard her teeth chattering. Then it trundled over a pothole, flinging her up into the air with a gasp, only to bump down hard a nanosecond later. She clutched the seat to steady herself, and a loud giggle burst out.

The driver adjusted his cap and glanced back. "So...you elopin'?"

Her jaw fell open, and she hastened to respond—but again, Shane beat her to it.

"Yep." He winked roguishly at Evanna's stupefied face. "And we got married."

"Newly weds, ah..." The man grinned and waggled his finger. "Know what I always say? Follow the heart. So young also. Just out of school? Came here to get blessings? I see, I see..."

Shane's lips stretched into a smirk.

"May the heavens bless you with long life and lots of lil ones. How many lil ones you hopin' for?"

"Ten." The smirk had now widened into a grin.

Evanna clapped her hands to her mouth in an attempt to stop the uncontrollable laughter that rocked her form.

"Big family, ah? Good, good. Nothing like 'em lil ones to liven up the house. I have four of 'em myself. More the merrier!"

The tuk picked up speed at the downward slope and wind smacked Evanna's face, blowing her hair in all directions. She burst into fresh peals of laughter.

When they arrived on the open road, she spotted Shane's car by the side, gleaming under the sun.

They soon waved goodbye to the garrulous tuk driver, who took off in the direction of the city.

As Evanna followed Shane to his car, her eyes homed in on his forearm. "Shane, there's—hang on."

He flung her a sideways glance as she rummaged in her backpack. "What are you looking for?"

"This." She produced a plaster spattered with panda faces—an item she now kept at hand after the run-in with Sara and Oleanda.

Shane slowed to a halt.

"Must've been the glass on that window sill?" She peeled the strip and pressed it gently on the angry red graze on his arm. "There. Barely covers it though...and don't forget to disinfect it later."

When there was no response, she shot him a quick look. "What?"

"Nothing." A dazzling smile adorned his face. "Thanks."

"Mm." She made a beeline for the car.

He caught up to her a heartbeat later. "So, what's the plan?"

"I dunno," she said with a twinge of uneasiness, and her fingers closed over the pen drive in her pocket. "I was thinking of heading back to Rind's place, but I'm worried about the time."

Evanna glanced down at her dirt-spattered sneakers that were now treading hot asphalt. She raised her hand and rubbed her temples. Maybe you can contact him online somehow and arrange a meeting—he'd want his pen drive back, for one thing.

"Maybe we should just head back," she murmured.

He opened the car door for her. "Yeah, you look like you've had enough for the day."

As she got in, Evanna couldn't help musing at the calming effect he had on her despite the uncertainty that lay ahead. The fact that he knew more about her than ever should've scared her, but she only experienced the same relief she had when confiding in Marilda and Serafina. It was as if a blazing ball of pent up worries had radiated out, leaving behind a cooler, unobtrusive remnant.

The trip back to Komoreby was a subdued affair.

After responding to missed calls from Mary and Marilda, Evanna slept most of the way, curled up on the passenger seat in her hoodie—except for the brief interlude at a pharmacy, where Shane got her medicated ointment for her bruised back.

Darkness had fallen by the time they reached the city.

"Oh, wow," she murmured, trying to clear her drowsy head. "How long was I asleep?"

"A while. I'm surprised you slept."

She narrowed her eyes at him. "Really, Shane?"

"Given your levels of paranoia, I thought you'd be hyperalert." He cast her a sideways glance. "You know, in case I abduct you, slice you up and sell your parts on the black market."

Evanna let out a laugh. She realized her headache had dwindled to faint discomfort.

As the car sped along with its characteristic vroom, she observed the glimmering city lights, some mere pinpricks against the twilight.

Excitement and uneasiness roiled inside when she thought of what she had learned and the pen drive in her possession. Shane still hadn't brought up the episode at Rind's house, and it no longer weighed on her. Her mind strayed to the lunch she had with him and the feel of his arms around her. She bit her lip in an effort to suppress her smile.

"So, I can't drop you in front of your place?" Shane asked.

"Yeah, 'cause if my mom sees, the next thing you'll hear about is my funeral."

He chuckled. "Are we going to go back to being strangers after this?"

She fidgeted in her seat. "Not like I can just walk up to you and say hey."

"You talk to Junho and Max."

"That's 'cause of Arcana!"

He threw her an amused glance. "You play Arcana with them?"

"Yeah." She gazed out of the windshield at the luminous streak of solar road studs. "That's how we ended up chatting."

"How did you get to know them in the first place?"

She cleared her throat. "You ask me way too many questions today."

He sighed. "I'll ask another time then."

Another time? Her eyes widened. Is he going to, like, randomly call me or something?

"Evanna," he said, his voice taking on a velvety softness.

She started, and her heart stirred pointedly in her chest. "What?"

"Will you play Arcana with me?"

Evanna averted her eyes with a sharp intake of breath. Now don't make a big deal out of it, Ev. You play with Junho and Max. No! Don't fall into that trap again—you don't belong with the popular club. Say no. Just say no.

"I'm Ebony17 on Fizzy," she blurted out, fixing her stare on the blur of strobing lights outside the window.

A smile broke out on his face. "I'll add you. Seventeen 'cause your birthday is on December seventeen?"

"Yeah."

"Hm."

Komoreby Tower loomed in the distance in all its splendor, a glistening monolith against the inky blue sky. In her mind's eye, she saw herself leaping off its summit. I might end up in a haystack or splat on the ground. There's just no way to know.

Feeling particularly warm and thirsty, she reached back and grabbed the carton of juice on the back seat. To her disappointment, it wasn't that cool anymore.

"Are you going to do the...waterfalling?" he asked.

She stopped halfway from unscrewing the cap. "Why do you care?"

"Because we're moving, and you'd probably splash juice all over. And I'd have to clean it."

"Fine." She pouted. "You don't seem like you wanna try this anyways."

"I already did. It's good."

"Mhmm, I told you." She brought the carton to her lips and faltered. Ooh, so it's going to be a...

Evanna stifled a giggle and downed the sugary fluid.

"Oh, you don't mind it?" Shane whispered with a smirk.

She took in another mouthful. "What?"

"Indirect kiss."

Her heart skipped a beat, and she almost choked. As heat flooded her cheeks, he watched her and laughed.

"Oh, shuddup, you ogre!" She proceeded to mumble a string of incoherent words about how such a thing never dawned on her.

Shane interrupted her. "Did you just call me...ogre?"

Crap, I said it out loud. She pulled up her hood to obscure her face while his laughter filled the air.

She barely sensed the time passing. They soon turned into Serin Drive.

It was dark and still despite the pools of light from street lamps. Mary had wanted her back by sunset, and she dreaded the scolding that awaited her.

"Shane, drive off super fast, okay? In case my neighbors see you." She thought of Manel's mom. "I have one or two snoopy ones."

He parked the car under a tree. Her house was just visible in the distance, light spilling out of the large windows.

She unfastened the seatbelt, grabbed her backpack and turned to him with her brightest smile. "Thank you."

A smile played on his lips as well as he watched her, eyes darker than ever in the dim light. "I should be thanking you."

Her heart fluttered. "For what?"

"That turned out to be one heck of a dat—day."

"Oh, yeah, crazy day." Her rosy cheeks heated up again. "Shane?"

"Mm?"

"I really am sorry I've given you a hard time," she whispered, her fingers twiddling on her lap. "It's not easy for me to—"

An owl hooted in the distance, and it seemed to break the moment.

"Evanna?"

She straightened up and squeaked, "Anyways, I'm off!"

Letting herself out, she waved goodbye and fast-walked towards the house.

She flung a glance over her shoulder to see him drive off. Cherishing the bubble of joy lodged in her heart, she smiled to herself and barely took notice of a vehicle approaching.

An instant later, she sensed a tall figure behind her.

Before she could turn, a needle penetrated her neck, accompanied by a sharp pain. A hand clapped over her mouth to smother her involuntary scream, while another arm grabbed her struggling form. Then she drifted into oblivion.