"Hey, wait!" The man cried out behind her. Sophitia didn't dare look back, but could hear his footsteps close by.
Holy Moons! He's following me! She thought in horror as she turned right and left down the winding streets. As long as got away from the man, she really didn't care much for where she was going. A few streets later and she was still lost, but the man's footsteps were no longer thumping after her. She was more concerned with the fact that night was upon her, and the pitch dark alleyways seem to yield unspoken frights as she became more and more anxious to experience what the streets had in store for her.
She jerked her head behind her. She could have sworn she heard the sound of footsteps edging up from the street she had just left.
Oh no! Is he stalking me again?!
She tried to run again, but was too worn out from her last marathon that she could only let out a tired jog. She didn't get very far as a result, and just when she staved to a stagger, she tripped and fell, wincing at the sting of the concrete. It was getting gradually colder, as the desert city was known for at night, and was now so dark she couldn't see where the next street began. She closed her eyes again, and imagined she was home. When the footsteps grew louder, she only closed her eyes tighter, as if to ward off her follower.
"Sophitia? What are you doing out here in the middle of the night?"
Sophitia gasped. I know that voice!
Sure enough, like a beautiful angel come to save her, she looked up to find Dalan's gorgeous face staring at her. She practically jumped on him and cried.
"Oh Dalan! I'm so happy you're here! I was lost and I kept hearing footsteps and-"
"Calm down. You look awful. Why don't you spend the night at my place?"
Sophitia's heart fluttered.
"You…Really?!"
"Sure I don't mind sleeping on the couch. Come on."
For once, Sophitia was glad it was so dark, otherwise Dalan might have noticed how red her face was. He lead her around the corner to the first house on the left and ushered her in. She was greeted by a strange sight when he turned on the yellow moonstone powered electric lights: there were steel boxes that almost covered the entire floor, and they were strangely marked with all sorts of symbols and postage stamps.
"What is all this?" she unconsciously asked, and was answered by a strange, almost menacing stare from Dalan.
"Ah, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to." She quickly added, and Dalan's face melted back to its beautiful, normal self.
"The bedroom is just through that door, make yourself at home."
Not wanting to upset him anymore, Sophitia quickly slide through the doorway and laid down.
Stupid! This is HIS house and I had to stick my nose in his business, and after he was nice enough to let me stay! I just might have screwed up my chances with him...she thought as she drifted off to sleep.
