Night Owls

Jerry glanced down at the photograph in his hand, then back up again at the woman sitting alone at the back of the cafe.

Blinking slowly, he rose to his feet and walked towards her. His heart hammered in his chest, but he willed himself to keep going. He had to know if she was the one in the photo. “Miss?” His voice came out scratchy at first, which he cleared with a cough. “Ah-hello? I’m Jerry.”

All at once a blinding light coursed through the space. Jerry and the woman froze. And then a creature appeared, seemingly from the air itself.

The pair backed up as the creature landed in front of them, emitting a low growl as it stood. Jerry’s breath quickened—it was what he had read about in the library. “I…I think we should run,” the woman said. Spinning on her heels, she ran. Jerry swallowed hard, then followed.