Wendy’s bedroom door creaked open, and a tall figure came in. He loomed over her form on the bed, pressing his hand to her mouth. Her sleepy awareness turned into alertness as her eyes flew open and she tried to scream.

John flipped her lamp on. “Shh, it’s me.”

She squinted in pain and asked, “John, what’s going on?”

He motioned for her to be quiet. At her dresser, he started to pull out clothes and shove them in her backpack. He paused when he got to her underwear drawer and looked over at her for help.

“Get out of there!” Wendy hissed. John rushed to her side and turned the light back off.

“Listen, Sis. You can’t stay here.”

“What do you mean? You’d better be joking.”

He shook his head, his eyes wide in panic. “They’re coming for you tomorrow morning. Mom made the phone call tonight.”

Wendy sat up and clasped her brother’s hands in fear. “I’m not going back. I swear I’m not insane. I’d rather die than go back.”

“I won’t let you, Wendy. Which is why you’re running away…tonight.”

Wendy didn’t need any encouragement; she knew that—of the two of them—she was the one to make hasty and rash decisions, never John. He always thought everything through, and if he believed her only option was to run away, she wouldn’t argue. She dressed quickly and took over the clothes packing.

“No, you can’t take anything that’s personal, and keep things tidy in your drawer. You can’t make it look like you ran away on purpose. Keep them guessing. Which is why I packed my extra toothbrush, my outer jacket.”

“Your jacket is too big,” Wendy said as she reached for her sneakers.

“Here’s all the cash I have on hand.” He shoved the money into her hands, and Wendy tucked it into her pocket. “And you have to leave your phone.”

“What? But how will I contact you?” Wendy had everything she needed in John’s black backpack. She looked around her room. She really wanted to take a few photos or mementos, but she didn’t have time. And he was right. She couldn’t make it look like she planned this.

“You’re heading here.” John handed her a piece of paper. “Some of my gamer friends are going to meet you at the Pizza Parlor and help you. They’ll keep in touch for you.”

“You’re kidding me. You’re trusting my life to people you haven’t even met in person? Don’t tell me it’s the crew I so easily distracted and got you all killed.”

“Hey, that was a game. This is real life. I trust them, Wendy.”

“Why can’t I take the Prius?”

“GPS tracking—the police will find you in no time.” He grabbed the bag out of Wendy’s hands and stood beside her bedroom door, listening before opening it and going downstairs.

“You’ve really thought of everything haven’t you, John?” Wendy’s voice dropped as she reached up to give him a hug. His strong arms wrapped around her, and when they parted, both had tears in their eyes.

“No, if I’d thought of everything, I would have found a way to protect you.” He looked down at his shoes.

“You did, you are.” Wendy let the tears flow freely. They heard footsteps upstairs, and they both froze. A few seconds later, the toilet flushed and water ran. The steps retreated back toward her parents’ bedroom.

They both stood staring at the ceiling, waiting for more sounds. Whoever it was might peek in to check on her.

After five minutes, they still hadn’t, though. “I think it’s time to go,” Wendy whispered.

John nodded. “Be safe, Sis.” He opened the door for her, and Wendy slipped into the night.

She turned at the end of their backyard and waved.

John held up his hand, fingers parted in the middle in tribute to one of his favorite shows. Live long and prosper.

Wendy whispered back. “I sure hope so.”

She headed into the darkness, fear her only companion.

Wendy entered the dim parking lot of the Pizza Parlor. The glow of the red neon sign cast it’s hue on the puddle she stepped through. Her fingers were chilled and she blew on them, then rubbed them together for warmth. The twenty-four-hour restaurant was the go-to place for famous deep dish pepperoni. College kids often congregated there for a late night food fix.

She stayed on the outskirts of the parking lot and stared at the people coming and going, studying them, trying to spot the contact person her brother had set up. She eyed the crumpled up piece of paper in her hand with the time written: 2 a.m. She had gotten here early. Her nerves had made her run faster than she ever thought possible.

She hated running.

It was fine, though. She needed time to scope out the place. A tan minivan pulled slowly into the parking lot and parked by the front door. Wendy ducked behind a silver SUV and watched as the side door opened and a blonde jumped out.

“Gah, I’m starving. I’m ordering a pizza to go,” she said.

The dark-haired driver didn’t react. He shoved his hands into his leather jacket and leaned against the van. “We can’t stay here long.”

The girl grabbed his jacket and yanked him toward the restaurant. “Come on Jax, I need you to pay.”

They looked like they could be the group she was meeting. Wendy was about to step out from the darkness when the third person hopped out of the passenger-side door and slammed it. He ran his hands through his auburn hair.

No! It couldn’t be. What were the chances? Stalker boy was here. She checked her watch and glanced back at the restaurant. The boy with the auburn hair leaned against the wall by the front door.

“Do you want anything Peter?” The girl asked.

“No Tink. I’m fine,” he said.

Tink. Peter. Jax.

What were the chances that she’d hear those names twice in one night?

Saviors or kidnappers. She wasn’t sure how to label them, but they were here in person. There was no way she could enter the restaurant now. She’d have to wait them out before she could look for John’s gamer friends.

Tired of standing in one spot, she stepped over the curb. Her shoe accidentally kicked a rock and it scattered across the parking lot.

He moved away from the wall and looked in her direction. “Hello?” his voice drifted across the lot.

Wendy held her breath and peeked out from behind the car. He might be staring in her direction, but it didn’t look like he could see her. His head kept panning back and forth, eyes squinting.

A shadow separated itself from beneath a nearby car and moved across the lot, drawing her attention. Her heartbeat drummed so loudly she couldn’t sort out whether it was caused by another car pulling out of a spot or something else.

She didn’t know what to believe anymore. She was wound tighter than any spring, and her muscles were stiffening from holding still for so long.

The shadow whipped out from behind a car and flew across the parking lot right toward her. Eep! She glanced toward the restaurant, and the boy was gone.

No way she would wait. This was no hallucination. She sprinted into the darkness. Away from the safety of the lit parking lot, away from the haven her brother’s gamer friends offered, and away from the dangerous stranger.