Listen closely, I think I heard a sound

Something's creeping around the corner...


If Addie was drunk, Teddy was positively wasted. She clutched Addie's manicured hand like a lifeline; tripping along in her boots, the shawl trailed sopping wet on the sidewalk. Soon, the fire of Addie's curls had been quenched and Teddy's spun-silk tresses were saturated with the rain. A smile of pure, unadulterated joy spread across Teddy's face, invisible in the dark – for once, she let herself be happy.

It wasn't only the fact that Teddy was walking hand-in-hand with a gorgeous girl that made her so happy, though. As Teddy looked over at her, she knew that Addie would never replace Henry; instead, her heart seemed to expand in order to encompass this newfound passion. This knowledge was the beacon in which she basked in, leading her safely through the night… but the metaphorical light counted for nothing as she felt a violent, bruising pressure against her windpipe. In the next second, Teddy couldn't even draw breath. Teddy couldn't even move.


Addie felt Teddy's hand rip out of hers and she turned. Teddy looked terrified, and Addie was completely confused until she saw a hand tugging at the pearl necklace around Teddy's neck. Screaming, Addie ran over to Teddy and tried to pull the hand away, but she seemed to hurt Teddy more than she helped. "Get off her!" Addie screamed.

"Give me them pearls, lady!" It was a male voice, and he still wouldn't let go.


Teddy squirmed within her attacker's iron grip. Her back was pressed against something warm, solid and completely abhorrent to her, and she struggled to keep an oxygen-deprived daze at bay. Giving one final kick at the man's instep, Teddy was surprised when pressure on her neck gave way. Staggering forwards and keeling over onto her hands and knees, her lungs desperately grasped whatever oxygen they could find purchase upon.

The clatter of the pearl necklace upon the concrete pavement was the only sound that registered through the roar of blood in Teddy's ears.


Addie was so relieved when the man finally let Teddy go. Running over to her side and desperately pulling Teddy up, Addison noticed a hand reaching for the pearls right in front of them. She didn't even care, as long as Teddy was okay.


But Teddy saw the hand too… and her dog tags and ring lying among the pearls. She broke free from Addie's arms, slender fingers shackling the thick wrist with fingertips not even touching. With her other hand, she formed a fist and sent it flying into the man's face. As blood spattered her front and settled hot and heavy on her eyelashes, Teddy felt a momentary surge of satisfaction – but that was before she heard the words "stupid bitch!" and felt herself flying backwards into the solid, unyielding sidewalk.


Addie watched as the man kicked Teddy hard in the face. The force of it sent Teddy's head smashing into the sidewalk, and Addie screamed when she saw. "Oh my god, Teddy, oh my god, please! TEDDY!" Teddy didn't respond, and Addie panicked. Blood saturated Teddy's curls, darker than the night. Because they were only across the street from the hospital, Addie started to run. She hated leaving Teddy lying there, but in that moment there was nothing else she could do.