“So youaresadistic.”I took a reflexive step back.“I thought you were joking the other day.”
“No, that’s a masochist.Sadistic people like inflicting pain.”
“But that’s you, too.”
He smiled. “It’s getting late. We should find a human so we don’t have to break into a house.”
“Would you really do that?”I asked in mild horror.
“I don’t know, would I?”His voice was cunning as his eyes surveyed me.They were nearly black.
“I don’t think so…?”
“Wrong answer.”He laughed and maneuvered past me.
I couldn’t decide which was worse: his deranged laughter or the realization that he might be serious. A chill went up my spine as I ran to catch up. I was still trying to figure it out when I spotted a little girl walking toward us.
“That’s a human, right?”I asked.
“The littlegirl?”Dennis followed my gaze.
“Her heartbeat sounds normal.”I stopped walking to focus on listening.
“Hence the stupidity of your question.”
“You’re such an asshole.”I turned my attention back to the girl. She probably couldn’tsee us yet, but I could hear her quietly humming from blocks away. If it were daytime this would be normal, but in the middle of the night it was like a horror movie. I scrunched my nose, weighing my options. Go find blood and leave the leech to fend for herself, or be nice and check on her.“I’ll be back.” I held out a hand when Dennis made to follow.“You stay here. Idon’t trust you. You’re probably gonna scare her on purpose.”
I headed toward the girl at a brisk pace but slowed down once I was close, partly so I wouldn’t scare her, but mostly because she might be a ghost.“Hey hun.”I smiledand came to a stop.“Where are your parents?”
“Hi!”She smiled brightly.“They’re not home so I’m on a walk.”
“They didn’t leave a babysitter or anything?”I asked, trying to hide my disapproval.
“No. ButI’ll go home before they get back. I don’t wanna get in trouble.”
“You shouldn’t be out here by yourself.”I ran a hand through my hair,holding back a grimace.“Let me walk you home, okay?”
“Okay!”
“Where do you live?”
“Over there.”She pointed back the way she’d come.
“Oh, good.That’s super close.”I examined her as we switched directions. Her blonde hair was unusually pale. Almost like Melissa’s.“What’s your name?”
“Mikaila. What’s yours?”
“Emy.”
“That’s your real name?”She looked at me with wide eyes.“You must have cool parents.”
“No, not really.”
“They’re not cool?”Her smile falteredfor a second, then returned at the sight of my own. I couldn’t help it. Her excitement was kind of adorable.
“My full name’s Emery,but I go by Emy. I like it better.”
“They’re both really pretty.”Mikaila paused before vibrantly adding,“I like them both.”
