A woman stood at the doorstep of a lightless house on a wide, paved, birch tree-lined street, hunched forward in exhaustion and trembling in fear. Her ebony bangs hung over her eyes as she allowed her head to sag and a few choked sobs to escape her slightly parted red lips.

She extended her hand, ringing the doorbell frantically, huffing and puffing to catch her breath as she clutched her trembling thigh with one hand. She impatiently gave up on the ineffective doorbell ringing to hammer her fist against the solid oak door. With anxious, occasional glances over her shoulder, she watched the seemingly vacant, dark street for any sign of her hooded pursuer's approach.

She gasped as she spotted the movement of a vague figure cloaked in black, further down the leaf-littered road. Her heart pounded in her chest as she pulled on the doorknob out of desperation, no longer worried about being polite in her frightening predicament. When the doorknob easily gave to her efforts, her eyes widened in elated surprise, before the guilt of entering a strange home uninvited struck her like a heavy torrent.

"Hello?" She questioned as she stepped into the dark home, its contemporary furnishings lined with a light layer of dust and its only source of lighting the outdoor street lamps casting through the windows.

The woman tucked a long, black strand of hair behind her ear as she warily looked around, remaining silent before she felt the need to check her pursuer's whereabouts again. She spun around, carefully closing the door behind her before stepping to the bay window aside it and pulling the dusty curtain back to view the street. The same, lurking figure was nearer now, his beady eyes searching, yet the woman was relieved to see that his wandering pursuit appeared aimless. She sighed in relief as she backed further into the home, to prevent being spotted through the window.

She was about to decide that the home was abandoned, that she had fortunately stumbled into an unknowing stranger's generosity by happening upon such an accessible home, when her surroundings suddenly became subtly illuminated, the source of the light coming from behind her.

She spun from the window to realize that the flickering illumination was originating from the far end of the hall, and she frowned before nervously biting her lip at the realization that she wasn't alone in that house. She worried the homeowner would be angered by her intrusion. She was trespassing, after all. She could not go outside, though. She couldn't bring herself to do that with that sickly creep out there, who had been pursuing her all through the town and along her walk home that night.

With a deep inhale, followed by a shaky exhale, she decided to carefully greet the homeowner, who she could only hope was a good person. The danger inside the home seemed less than the danger outside the home. She was taking a gamble with what she considered to be the lesser of two evils.

"Hello?" She called towards the hall as she headed slowly in that direction with soft footsteps, not recognizing her own voice in its meekness.

"Hello?" Was the surprised response she received, though it almost seemed her own question echoing back to her in a deeper voice, rather than a genuine reply. A shadow of an approaching figure stretched across the carpet of the hall, and she froze in fear before she could raise her gaze from the ground to perceive who was with her.

She gasped at the sight of the tall figure, then sighed in relief when through the dancing light of the distant candle behind the stranger, she could make out a warm smile on the face of the man before her. Despite the strange situation of their meeting, she instantly felt comforted by the man's presence.

"I'm so sorry for my intrusion." She explained hurriedly as he took a slow step towards her, slowly tilting his head in consideration of the woman in his home.

"What are you doing in here?" He questioned with no malice or accusation behind his voice.

"I know it's wrong for me to let myself in like this, but I was being followed..." She trailed off and shyly lowered her gaze after an intense moment of locking eyes with his. She was shocked by how pristine and angelic his face looked, his pale skin contrasting beautifully with his dark, piercing eyes and black hair, which all seemed flawless in the hazy illumination of the faint candlelight.

"It's alright. I haven't had company here in a while. You're welcome to stay as long as you need." He replied with a charming smile. He was being almost suspiciously kind, but she couldn't bring herself to refuse his kindness. "Sorry about the lights." He added with a nonchalant shrug. She blinked at him in confusion.

"You don't..."

"I don't really bother with electricity. Haven't paid an electric bill in years." He finished for her with a dismissive shrug as he crossed his arms unflappably. "So, you said you were being followed?" He asked as he curiously stepped in front of the window, leaning low to leer at the abandoned street outside. "I don't see anyone now." She frowned deeply at that remark. It sounded like an invitation for her to leave, which was likely what the stranger would want, even if he did invite her to stay. He was likely just saying that to be kind. But just because he didn't see the man out there anymore, didn't mean that she felt any safer leaving yet.

She didn't know when she would feel safe to leave.

Reading the young woman's worried expression, which was marring the beautiful features of her pretty face, the stranger smiled apologetically. "You should stay a little longer to make sure he's gone." He offered. She breathed a sigh of relief, releasing a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding.

"Thank you."

"What's your name?" The man asked immediately, hardly acknowledging her sincere expression of gratitude.

"Chi-Chi." She replied with a huff as her eyes repeatedly flicked between the window and the man, his nearness to it making her visibly uneasy with the lurking presence outside. Reading her unspoken request, he stepped away from the window, closer to her with a smile.

"I'm Goku." He replied as he took another step towards her, the muscular features of his arms highlighted by the casting of the streetlights through the window as he did so. Chi-Chi felt her cheeks heat and she instinctively turned her face away. Even if it was dark, she didn't want to risk Goku catching the blush on her cheeks.

The sound of rustling and metallic, clumsy bangs from outside alerted them both to the rear end of the house. The sounds seemed near, too near for Chi-Chi's comfort. Goku did not waste a second, bravely heading towards the sound at a brisk pace, when Chi-Chi decided to follow. She couldn't stand to be alone in that moment, and Goku's presence was making her feel safer. Goku had stopped near the kitchen window, narrowing his eyes as he focused intently on listening for anymore sounds. It was silent.

Chi-Chi warily bit her lip before hesitantly reaching her hand towards the blinds concealing the outdoor view. Before her fingers grazed the blinds, Chi-Chi drew her hand into her chest with a fearful gasp. Just the thought of seeing that man, that predator out there waiting for her had her heart pounding in her chest again and her knees shaking weakly.

She began to extend her hand again when a deliberate, forceful effort of pulling outside produced a rattling sound against the locked window. Chi-Chi couldn't help screeching in terror at the sound, though she fought to restrain herself and clapped a hand over her betraying mouth. Icy fingers enveloped her bare arms as Goku clutched his hands around her from behind, protectively drawing her away from the window and into his embrace.

"Chi-Chi," he breathed into her ear, his low, serious tone incredibly different from the way he had spoken to her earlier. She closed her eyes at the sensation of his breath breezing lightly over the hairs on the back of her neck, a chill crawling up her spine at the whisper of her name. "You can't stay here. It isn't safe."

Chi-Chi knit her brows tightly in deep confusion. She couldn't imagine a safer place at that moment. "But, Goku-"

"It isn't safe." He repeated with finality behind his voice. "There's a house down the street. That way." He explained in a hushed whisper with a nod and slight shift in the direction of his intention. "An old man used to live there. I hope he still does. You can trust him, Chi-Chi. Go there." Goku instructed as Chi-Chi pulled away from Goku's grasp and spun to face him inquisitively. A rattle sounded from a few windows away, in another room, and Chi-Chi jumped and cringed, while Goku glared in that direction.

"But, Goku. I'd rather trust you." Chi-Chi objected as Goku placed his hands on her back, guiding her towards the front door. She didn't want to go out there. He had to be crazy, sending her out there, knowing her stalker was out there.

"I'll keep this guy busy." Goku replied, blatantly ignoring Chi-Chi's objection. "While I distract him, you run for it and don't look back." Chi-Chi frowned with worry.

"I can't just leave y-" she began again as Goku wasted no time cutting her off, his expression returning to that jovial, comforting smile she had seen from him earlier.

"I'll be fine." He said confidently. "Don't worry about me. I'm just glad I could help." Goku replied honestly. Chi-Chi couldn't help smiling back at him, even as the tapping escalated to a loud bang outside, accompanied by the grumbling of an indistinguishable, low voice. "Go." Chi-Chi reached for the door, hesitating with her hand on the brass handle.

"Thank you, Goku." She said reluctantly, hoping his convincing confidence was more than just a brave front. She leaned forward quickly, nervously pressing her lips against his cheek, which she was surprised to find was remarkably smooth, and as cold as his hands. Without even a glance back to see Goku's reaction to her intimate expression of appreciation, she bolted the door wide open, prepared to run.

She didn't wait to see where Goku went, or even glance over her shoulder to make sure she was not being pursued. The house Goku mentioned was coming into view, and Chi-Chi was determined to get to it safely. She ran at an impressive speed, her lungs and throat burning from the effort by the time she reached the front door in a scene reminiscent of her earlier situation. She banged loudly and frantically with both fists, relieved to be received by a quick answer this time around.

"What's all the commotion out here?" The wiry old homeowner complained with an annoyed glare as he swung the door open and lowered his glasses to take a look at the intruder on his doorstep. Still struggling to catch her breath, Chi-Chi pleaded with her terrorized gaze, her look speaking volumes as the old man's eyes widened in alarm and he stepped aside, welcoming the strange woman into his home before he hurriedly slammed the door shut.

"Thank you." Chi-Chi huffed between pants and gasps.

"What happened, Miss?" The old man asked with knowing concern, looking suspiciously through the glass of his front door towards the street as he questioned her, his head darting side to side as he craned his wrinkled neck to peer at different angles.

"A man has been following me all night. You need to call the police!" She exclaimed suddenly, grabbing the man's shoulders in a panic as she recalled Goku and the dangerous predicament in which she left him. The man scowled at her clenching grasp on his bony shoulders before shaking her off and staring aghast at her, taking much too long to act.

"Now! We need to call them now! Goku's-"

"What?!" The old man croaked, shaking her by the shoulder briefly as she had done to him. Chi-Chi huffed as she glared with determination at the old man.

"Your neighbor, Goku. He's in danger." The old man shook his head, a look of utter disbelief crossing his face before he shook his head again at Chi-Chi with a scowl.

"I don't know what kind of a game you're playing, young lady. You think it's funny, playing pranks and scaring old men?!" He seemed suddenly infuriated, offended, and Chi-Chi was beginning to feel equally so, as well as deeply worried about what was happening with Goku and the stranger.

"Where's your phone? I'll call them myself if you won't." She insisted as she let herself further into the house, having no problem doing so for a second time that evening, especially when someone was in danger who had shown her so much kindness.

"You are really pushing this." The old man complained as he followed Chi-Chi to the phone she had spotted and then abruptly slammed his palm forcefully to cover the phone. Chi-Chi glared indignantly at him.

"Goku told me I could trust you! I left him alone with that stalker, who could be a serial killer for all I know, and you won't call the police?!" She shouted indignantly at the old man, who scowled incredulously back at Chi-Chi before looking at her with a scrutinizing gaze.

"You're really serious, aren't you?" The old man finally questioned in awe after a long, speechless pause. He slowly removed his hand from the phone, his color draining as Chi-Chi disregarded his odd mannerisms in favor of picking up the phone and dialing the emergency number.

"Young lady," he began sternly as the phone rang and Chi-Chi tapped her foot impatiently, "Goku's house has been empty for months because the homeowners are on vacation. Goku, bless that wonderful young man's soul, has been dead for seven years." The old man explained in a hollow voice as another voice responded through the emergency line on the phone.

"What is your emergency? Are you safe? Can you tell me what's happened tonight?"

Chi-Chi's mouth fell open as she stared aghast at the serious, solemn expression on the old man's face. She would have thought he was trying to play a trick on her, but there was not even a trace of amusement in his eyes. Chi-Chi's mouth went dry, her heart fluttered nervously in her chest, and she paled like the old man before her. She could not respond to the operator's questions, as she realized there was no way she could ever explain what happened to her that night.