She answered a phone call from her own number. Moira held her phone to her ear, tucking a stray lock of auburn hair behind her ear as she braced against the chill autumn wind. “Hello?” She said tentatively, curiosity winning over her better judgement. She expected some kind of new ‘give me your money or I’ll die’ scam. She’d heard a few things about it circulating on social media. Something about pinging cell towers to clone numbers. 

“Whatever you do, do not go home.” A deep voice said on the other line. It felt like a bucket of ice water had been poured over her head. “Who is this?” She demanded, her voice sounding much steadier than she felt as she quickened her pace towards the little two bedroom house she shared with her best friend, Kait. “It isn’t safe.” The voice said, sounding more insistent. “Turn around and go back to the coffee shop.” Her blood turned cold, goosebumps prickling along her skin. “Who are you?” She demanded again. “Are you watching me?” The voice chuckled. He’s laughing at her? Anger and annoyance overtook the fear. This has to be some kind of practical joke. “Very funny, asshole.” She scoffed. She pulled the phone from her ear and hit the end call button. She shoved her chilled fingers back into her pockets with her phone and continued her way home. 

The small house wasn’t much to look at, but she and Kait had made it feel like home. She practically skipped up the front steps, opening the unlocked door. “Kait, you here?” She called into the dark house. “You’re never going to believe the phone call I just got.” She hung her coat on its hook and shoved her phone into her back pocket. She stepped through the tiny entryway into the dark living room. Strange, Kait always leaves the lights on. She thought absently as she flipped the light switch. Nothing happened. She flipped the switch off and on a few times with a frustrated sigh. She must have tripped a fuse or something. She pulled her phone from her pocket and turned the flashlight on, making her way down the hallway to their bedrooms. She knocked on Kait’s door. “Hey, you in there?” She called out. She heard a muffled grunt and rolled her eyes. Another “friend” must be keeping her company. “I’m coming in! Don’t be naked!” She called, pushing the door open. 

She shone her flashlight around the room, stopping when it landed on a naked male body on the floor. “You and your friend blew a fuse. How did you not noti-“ she froze as the light reflected off a dark liquid pooled around the guy on the floor. Her breath stuck in her throat. There’s no way. She shone the flashlight around the room until she found her friend, eyes closed and pale, on the other side of the room. “Kait?” She whispered, moving closer to her. 

She dropped to her knees, placing her hand on Kait’s face. She was cold. Panic started squeezing her chest, her fingers tracing down to Kait’s neck to find a pulse. Her breath came in shallow pants. She couldn’t find a pulse. This could not be happening. She heard a thud from behind her and spun, shining her light on something straight out of her nightmares. This thing had to be at least seven feet tall, with animalistic features and long gangly limbs. Gray skin stretched over unnaturally angled bones and eyes as dark as night watched her with predatory intensity. She wanted to scream or run, or both, but she was frozen under its gaze. Her body started trembling as it began slowly stalking towards her, baring its bloodstained jagged teeth. She couldn’t move, she could barely hear it hissing at her through her blood rushing in her ears as her heartbeat thundered in her chest. 

Suddenly something crashed through the window, breaking her trance. She screamed, covering Kait’s body with hers against the shower of glass. She looked up, frantically searching with her flashlight, and found broad shoulders and a muscled back facing her. The person facing off with the beast had two long blades clasped in each hand. They lunged for each other and she turned her head back to her friend, ignoring the fight just a few feet away. 

Her brain started working in overtime, remembering her med school training as she began chest compressions. Thirty and two. She kept repeating, giving her friend round after round of CPR. 

“Leave her. She’s dead. We have to go.” A male voice spoke from behind her. She recognized that voice, but couldn’t place it. “No.” She said, starting another round of compressions. The man growled behind her and suddenly she was off the ground and over his shoulder, being carried out the window and away from her home. 

It took her a moment to realize what was happening, but once her thoughts caught up to her, she began thrashing and screaming. "Put me down!' She cried out. What do you think you're doing?!" She pounded her fists into his back, kicking her legs and trying to throw herself out of his grip. The man stopped running and dropped her to the ground. She landed on her butt with a grunt and glared up into the face of her rescuer and kidnapper. He had tanned skin, washed pale in the moonlight, and dark hair, tousled from the wind. He glared down at her, frustration written across his features.

"What am I doing?" He demanded. "I am saving your ungrateful life." He growled out. "I tried to warn you not to go home. Why did you ignore it?"

"That was you?!" She exclaimed. "How the hell did you get my number? And how the hell did you call me from it?" She asked, pushing herself to her feet.

"If you don't mind, that thing has friends that I am sure are on their way now." He stated. "So, if you’re done trying to get yourself killed alongside those two inside, I would prefer to get somewhere safe and then I promise to answer your questions. Do we have a deal?" He said, glaring down at her with eyes that seemed to shine with moonlight.

She nodded, unsure of what else she could do, as he began walking, dragging her behind him by her wrist.