Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
pinning her arms, the other hand covering her mouth. Discman and headphones<br />
discarded somewhere in the dirt.<br />
“Well, Xan? Which is it?”<br />
Xander ignored Spike and inspected the girl. The fear he saw in her eyes was<br />
entirely too familiar. Too reminiscent of the fear in the eyes of the red-headed girl<br />
they had encountered a week and a half ago. Everyone dies afraid.<br />
Xander took several steps forward, until he was standing just in front of the girl.<br />
“Hey. Listen to me.” The girl was shaking terribly, so he tried to make his voice<br />
sound as non-threatening as possible. “I know. I know you’re scared, but you have<br />
to listen to me. Are you listening?”<br />
The girl’s eyes finally focused on Xander and she nodded her head once.<br />
“Good. Spike here is going to take his hand off your mouth and you’re not going to<br />
scream. Right? No screaming?”<br />
Another small nod. Spike removed his hand and readjusted his arms so that he was<br />
just holding her wrists. The girl took a quick sharp breath in and Xander had his<br />
own hand over her mouth before the scream could escape.<br />
“What did I just say? Let me explain something. We are not going to hurt you. I<br />
know it looks like we are, but we’re not. Right, Spike?”<br />
Spike rolled his eyes. “Yeah, whatever.”<br />
“Okay, don’t listen to him. Listen to me.” Xander slid his hand from her mouth and<br />
stroked the girl’s cheek. She didn’t show any signs of calling for help for the<br />
moment so he kept talking. “I want you to understand that it’s not about you. You<br />
were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. And, agreeing with Spike here,<br />
walking alone in the middle of the night, with headphones on, no less, pretty<br />
stupid.”<br />
The girl surprised Xander by looking ashamed for just an instant, then her eyes
Change language