Owen had volunteered to walk me to my car, but I’d turned him down so I could spend a little time after work on some new lighting effects around the DJ booth that I wanted to tweak. The lights were bright as fuck and the first time I’d tried to use them, they’d blinded the people on the dance floor.

I wound up being happy about not making him wait when it ended up taking an hour to get them redirected to angles where they’d still dramatically accent the music while maybe not flashing in too many people’s eyes. I didn’t think I had them right yet, but I was tired, and sick of messing with them.

Still, despite that, I was in a very good mood as I walked to the parking garage at the end of the block. I was heading to see James again.

My mind wandered to James and what he’d be wearing when he opened the door. Hopefully, those very thin blue pajama pants I’d seen sitting folded on his dresser the other night. No shirt. Just muscles, tattoos, and a dick that couldn’t possibly be contained by any fabric.

I’d press my body against him, nip at his nipples until they hardened, and then suck on them until I felt his dick harden against my body.

Reminding myself to pay attention to my surroundings didn’t help. Even the thought of James’ body was distracting. I did pick up my pace, but only because I wanted to feel James’ body, and have him tell me more about his day.

Hell, I even wanted to tell him thanks for giving me an excuse to avoid my parents that weekend.

I stopped short in the middle of the row of the second floor of the parking garage when I saw that someone had slashed my tires.

Alone in the empty garage, I felt more terrified than I’d ever felt before. Goosebumps rose on my arms as I spun to make sure no one was sneaking up behind me. After taking two steps toward the car, I stopped again, realizing that I only had one spare tire and two were flat for sure. What if whoever did it was hiding behind, under, or in the car.

Nope. I’m not going to be the dumbass to fall for that. The car is useless to me. I’ll come back for it later.

I was down the ramp to the ground floor and out of the garage before I slowed to get my bearings.

The shortest route home would take me past the alley behind The Firehouse.

Fuck that!

As I looked up and down the block, I swore I saw millions of alleys. Alleys inside of alleys. I couldn’t walk home in any direction without passing all of them.

Maybe not all of them, but too many.

I needed help.

Ducking down behind a hedge that lined the parking garage, I called James.

No answer.

Fuck. Where are you?

I climbed out from behind the hedge and held myself tall, convincing myself that I’d be fine. I’d walked home so many times without any issues.

Tonight won’t be any—

A gunshot exploded behind me. I dove to the ground with my hands over my head before realizing that bullets don’t stop just because the person they are aimed at surrenders.

When I heard the squeal of tires, I realized that it had just been a car backfiring.

Feeling stupid, I stood and wiped off the pebbles that had stuck to my palms. Without pausing to let doubt settle back in, I started walking to my left, and turned down a side street that would take me away from The Strip and avoid the alley behind The Firehouse.

My heart rate had finally settled down. I kept my pace brisk, but my mind was able to focus on how much bullshit it was that I couldn’t feel safe just walking home. The world had some bad monsters. I knew that, but I never really believed they lived so close to me.

Sure, assholes who shouted, “Fag,” or even picked fights existed almost anywhere. But people who would actually kill a man just for being gay? That was bullshit.

A few blocks passed uneventfully and my normal love of walking in the cool summer night air returned. I checked my phone, but James hadn’t called or texted. Figuring he was asleep and I was going to be fine, I didn’t bother him.

Instead, I imagined letting myself into his house, climbing up the stairs, and stripping while I walked down the hallway to his bedroom. He’d be asleep on his back. I’d straddle his chest and tease his lips with my dick until he woke, smiled, and opened his mouth. His tongue would feel—

The streetlight I was walking under popped and the street went dark, sending shivers down my body.

I’ve gotta stop jumping at shadows. I’m a grown man who can walk himself home from work.

A dog barked, convincing me that I really couldn’t. I flinched and ran before seeing that he was locked up in the backyard of a nearby house.

Why am I noticing all of these things tonight? Surely, they happen pretty much any night.

Wondering what it would take to convince me that the world was safe again, I pushed onward, knowing that the only escape from the fear would be in James’ arms.

The world was too cruel. Well, at least around The Strip.

A cop siren sounded in the distance.

“Catch the bastard,” I whispered angrily into the night.

That’s what the world needed. Cops like James keeping the evil at bay. Guys like him could help all of us find the strength to endure the terrors of the night.

I was being melodramatic, but fuck it. It had been a rough week, but I’d reached James’ house, so everything would soon be fine. The lights were all off, but I heard country music again from the back porch.

The thought of how comforting his country music was made me smile at how quickly things had been changing in my life. Sure, plenty of it was bad, but James more than balanced it all out.

Walking between our two houses, I tried to think up a cocky insult for his bad taste in music, but couldn’t. I just wanted him to hold me. I was tired of dealing with life alone.

We’d have to do something about the tires tomorrow, but after that we’d still have time for that real date that James was planning.

Someone touched my face.

I screamed and kicked out at the unseen attacker. My arms flailed into the darkness of the night.

It was like fighting a ghost, though. There was no one there, but he kept touching my chest and scratching at my face. It didn’t matter which direction I turned, the attacks were all around me.

Just when I started to notice that the punches were not hurting me at all, I was lifted off the ground.

“James. Help!” I screamed while kicking back at the beast that had grabbed me.

“Shhh. Relax,” James whispered calmly into my ear. “I’ve got you.”

When I calmed and he set me down, I spun and wrapped my arms around him, fighting like hell to stop the tears that threatened to flow.

“Who the fuck was that? Why can’t you cops even keep your own houses safe?” I snapped.

“Dude, you were just caught in the branches. It’s dark as hell on this side of the house. Come on. Let’s get you inside and make sure you didn’t get any cuts.”

I didn’t offer any resistance when he pressed his hand against my back and lead me to his porch.

Everything would be okay now. James would protect me.