Crunching through the thick snow they both silently trudged side by side down the long abandoned city sidewalk guided by the flashlight Dorian produced from his coat. "You know, I haven't even asked you your name."

 

There were just too many things happening, from being stuck in a pitch-black elevator for the most terrifying five minutes of her life and now walking through a blizzard, it was hard to think straight.

 

"Dorian Fields," the man didn't look at her as he replied. With his back straight he continued marching forward, his eyes constantly darting around the perimeter as they walked.

 

"Oh like Dorian Gray, the book?"

 

"Spelling yes," he narrowed his gaze at the dark alley they passed. "However the similarities end there, I do not share his immortality or...other interest."

 

For the first time, she felt him look at her with more than a scrutinizing stare but with a lingering heat before looking back to the icy path ahead of them. Momentarily stunned at the heart jumping feeling his look caused Lasette subconsciously reverted back to her nervous habit—talking.

 

"Oh, well that's a nice name. My name is Lasette Crane, I work on the eighth floor at Milken's Saddlery. I am their brand management, executive. We sell really expensive an exquisitely made dressage apparel. They're so nice I even spent a small fortune and bought an outfit for myself. Where do you work I haven't seen you around the building before?" That probably sounded dumb she thought, the building was huge with lots of offices and lots of people, so that didn't make sense. She was just so cold she wanted to take her mind off the freezing wind on her face, and he wasn't saying anything.

 

"I work on the fifth floor for Amtrak, I am a lead system safety analyst." His words much like his tone were succinct and to the point. Lasette wondered if the man ever talked to anyone or was he just this way to her.

 

No, she chided herself, this was a crazy, exhausting situation. Who in their right mind would be in a good mood, she couldn't hold that against the quiet man.

 

"That sounds nice I kind of thought you might have worked at the office down the way from me," when he didn't respond she continued. "There is an MMA or something like that talent agency down the hall."

 

This time he did react, turning his head a little she could see one gray eye lock onto her as one dark eyebrow raised in silent query.

 

She rushed to explain. "I just meant because of your build." She waved one hand up and down at his tall figure as if that said it all. "You have the exact same physique as the other men I see coming and going." Or should she say what her and her coworkers drool over at any chance they got.

 

"Physique huh?" Despite the harsh wind that seemed to be picking up with every step they took, she was able to pick up the teasing note in his tone.

 

Embarrassed she tried to explain. "I mean…" Looking for the right words that wouldn't dig her any deeper. "You just kind of remind me of my brothers. Were you in the military by chance?" Surely a man who's eyes kept vigilant watch over every dark alley, and building recess they passed had some sort of law enforcement training.

 

Dorrian's shoulders stiffened but is steady pace didn't falter. "I was." The stiff reply told her without saying anything more not to press him on the subject.

 

Feeling properly rebuffed in her attempt at friendly conversation she put her head down against the biting wind and followed his lead. Since moving to Denver a year ago, she never experienced anything like this before. The bustling downtown streets were dark and empty, void of any sign of life, she felt as if they were walking through a scene in a post-apocalyptic movie. Every now and then she tried to look up towards the great colossal buildings for any sign life through the windows, but all she could see through the flurry filled windows was—nothing. Nothing but the black outline of windows with nothing behind them. Lasette had to remind herself that they were walking down a street with very little condos and apartments and the next streets over most likely had more signs of life.

 

They crossed a deserted street to continue along the sidewalk on the other side. Peering down the street Lasette’s stomach dropped at the blackness that extended down there as well. Was the power out everywhere?

 

Scared, she risked asking her silent partner another question. "How far do you think the outage goes?" The crunch of his boots in the snow seemed much louder as she waited for him to respond.

 

"I don't know I won't be able to find out until we get a signal on our phones or we somehow reach higher ground to see the city skyline. Either way, both options are unavailable now." The cold, emotionless tone angered her and hurt her feelings all at once.

 

If she could go back in time she would definitely tell herself to forget the extra work she was doing on next year's spring roll out, she would have just gone home with everyone else that day. Right now she could be cozied up on her couch with a hot bowl of soup and a glass of wine. Looking up she tried to judge how far they had to go but the blinding wind made it difficult to see. Looking back down she noticed that her steps fell in line with his perfectly. With each step, Dorian forged in the thick snow his large boots made a perfect hole for her sneakers to safely step in behind him. Looking back behind her Lasette realized there was only one set of tracks. Turning back to look forward her heart clenched in guilt as she realized what he was doing. Not only was he creating an easy path for her to follow he was using his body to block most of the harsh wind from her face.

 

Using one hand to dig in her gym bag she pulled out a foil wrapped bar and tapped him on the shoulder with it. "Here I have a protein bar. It's really good, it's peanut butter and chocolate flavor."

 

Taking the offered bar from her hand, he continued his pace while examining the bar. Ripping open the package with his teeth he took a large bite from the bar.

 

"This isn't a protein bar."

 

She nearly stumbled over his words. "What do you mean?" She was expecting a thank you not a judgment at her proverbial olive branch. "It says protein bar on the wrapper, I stayed at the health food store for twenty minutes taste testing…"

 

Eating the rest in one bite, he shoved the empty wrapper in his pocket and shook his head. Lasette wasn't sure if he was laughing at her not. "You picked it for the taste. I figured that much when I saw how much sugar was in it."

 

Annoyed she regretted giving the awful man anything.

 

“I'm thirty-three years old, single, and I retired from the military two years ago. I joined the Army directly out of high-school, and I was an Army Ranger for the last five years of service.”

 

Lasette was sure she heard an unspoken "are you happy now, " but she didn't care she was just happy there was more than just silence between them. Seizing the invitation, she began to tell him how much he reminded her of her two twin brothers who are Navy SEALs. She was just about to tell him about her other brother when she spotted a familiar sight.

 

"Dorian look it's the Gardenia Hotel," pointing at the big snow-covered potted plants that marked the hotel's doors. "They should have a landline we can…"

 

Not bothering to finish her sentence, she trudged along ahead of him in the now two feet deep snow, reaching the hotel's glass doors and stopped. Cupping her hand over the glass, she peered into the hotel. No one! There was no one inside, not one soul. Shocked she stumbled back in the high snow, pitching backward into the solid body behind her. Embarrassed Lasette steadied herself, doing her best to ignore the iron grip of Dorian's hands practically holding her upright.

 

"What's going on Dorian?" Doing her best not to cry Lasette looked up to the tall man for answers. "Hotels are always open, where is everyone?" She could hear her voice crack under her rising fear, this was starting to move beyond creepy to just plain terrifying.

 

Grabbing her by the shoulders, Dorian gave her a warning look. "Lasette I need you to stay in the path I'm making and keep moving." He turned away and not waiting for her to reply, obviously annoyed at her interruption in their journey.

 

He wasn't listening. "But where is everyone?! I don't under…"

 

Stopping in his tracks, Lasette watched nervously as Dorian stiffly looked over his shoulder giving her a chilling look before turning around to face her completely. "There are no cars or people because it's a holiday weekend and this street is mostly filled with shops and banks. And on top of a current ongoing blizzard and large-scale power outage there is a playoff game at the Bronco Stadium which is most likely aiding in this power outage. Satisfied or do you have any more questions?" He answered icily, his gray eyes challenging her to say something else.

 

He made an indiscernible groaning noise when she sadly nodded, turning around he continued forward.

 

She was wrong, she thought as she slowly followed the man, he was nothing like her brothers. The giant of a man might share a few traits, but he wasn't kind and patient like they were. With every step she prayed the power would come back on or the bars on her phone would pop back up so she could turn around and leave the moody man out in the cold. But her prayers went unanswered.

 

Crossing another empty intersection Lasette shivered at the biting wind hitting her damp sneakers. He was right she should have stayed in his path, looking at his broad back she sneered in disgust, she rather die of hypothermia before she admitted that though. Looking down at the street they were crossing, her heart soared when she saw fresh tire tracks in the snow. She knew it was silly, and it was just her overactive imagination, but she was really happy to see some sort of sign of life.

 

"Son of a bitch," Dorian's words were lost in the whipping winds around her as she quickly looked up.

 

Still standing with her legs apart in his pre-made tracks Lasette awkwardly leaned to the side in a half lunge position to see. They both stood at the street's edge and stared at the sight ahead of them—an empty Union Station.