It had been about an hour since Maria had gone back outside, or at least that was what it felt like. She was finally rid of her inhuman savior and had resumed her search for Mary, if she were still alive, that is.

"No, I can't think like that. Wait, I'm talking to myself again. Am I going crazy?"

According to the map, she was back at Rosewater. Who knows, Mary could have wandered here by herself.

"I hope she's okay.she's always so afraid of everything."

Maria also wanted to know who exactly pushed her into the lake. A nice long talk would probably set whoever she was straight.

"Ah.excuse me, little girl?"

She whipped around to see an actual person talking to her.

"Who the hell are you?"

"Don't talk to me like that! I just wanted to ask you a question!"

He was a young man in khaki pants and a light blue shirt. His curly black hair went down to his neck, and he had the slightest sign of facial hair on his chin and below his nose. His eyes were a soft hazel, and they seemed to glimmer with never ending patience.

"I'm looking for my grandpa. We came to this town for a vacation, and he has this annoying habit of getting lost. I can't find my Mom, either. Have you seen either of them?"

"No. You're the only human I've seen."

"What do you mean by 'human?' It's not like there's monsters here or something, right?"

"There are. I've seen them."

He laughed to himself. It was a sweet sound, like syrup going over a rock, or a bubbling brook.

"My name is Richard. Richard Sunderland."

She sighed.

".Maria."

"Maria? That's a pretty name. It's Spanish for 'Mary,' isn't it?"

Mary? Could this man have seen her?

"I'm looking for someone, too. Her name is Mary, and she's my twin sister."

Maria took out her locket. Mary had a locket just like this one, and the two always carried a picture of each other in them so they would never feel apart. It sounded stupid, but it was Mary's idea. It was a present for their 14th birthday.a year ago.

"No, I haven't seen her."

A sharp pang of disappointment washed over her. Could Mary be dead after all? Was she hurt? The image of one of those monsters dragging her off into a closet filled her mind. She tried to get rid of it; she couldn't let this stranger feel her pain.

"I'll help you look for her, if you want. We're both missing somebody important, so I figure if we stick together we might find them quicker."

"Sure, just don't slow me down."

Richard laughed again.

"I won't, don't worry. I never like being a burden to other people."

She couldn't help but smile. Maybe this Richard guy wasn't so dumb after all.

"Richard? Dad? Where are you?"

She couldn't believe this. Those two chose that time to just ditch her at that moment, leaving her alone in this creepy, foggy town.

"Dad?"

She had been here before, unafraid and unhurt, but that was a long time ago. Thirty years to be exact.

And she, Laura Sunderland, could not believe she was afraid of a little fog.

"Is anybody here?"

Nobody answered.

An exasperated sigh filled the space by Neely's Bar. Those two were always getting themselves lost. Even if she could chain herself to them they would still probably leave her behind.

And of course, Dad's stories made her even more afraid.

His stories of monsters and things with pyramid heads, and that demon- lady Maria, they all made her afraid. But of course, he had always seemed a little crazy. Perhaps that was where her son got his reckless sense of adventure.

Laura remembered the time when Richard had gone into that abandoned building and came out without a scratch. It was she who had broken her leg trying to get him out. He was always getting himself into trouble.

But, she reminded herself, he at least wasn't like that no-good lout of a father he had, who had ran out on them both when they needed him most for some other woman. He had left her homeless, so she had no choice but to seek shelter at her father's house. She was pregnant with Richard then, and she could remember the look of joy on his face when he was born. He had said that he never thought he would have grandchildren, especially after his wife died.

She could remember Mary so well. She was like a friend and a mother to her. And as soon as she and James left, he had adopted her as his daughter, and she had accepted him as a father. She had thought of him as nothing more than a fart-face back then, but he grew on her like a mutant fungus.

She heard footsteps coming down the street. They sounded like the heavy clunking of boots, and she could barely make out a shadow coming towards her.

It fit the description of the Pyramid-thing from Dad's stories perfectly.

She couldn't help but shake. If the monsters really did exist, then she and Richard were in danger. Her son needed her help.

"Maria?"

Dad had said the thing didn't talk. There was no way that a monster could say something.

"No. You are not Maria."

He looked like the picture of the executioner from the brochure about the town, the ones who had killed the prisoners at the Toluca Prison. Perhaps he had worked at the Historical Society?

"Thank God! I thought I was alone here. And Halloween came a little early here, didn't it?"

He tilted his head, perhaps out of confusion. Laura couldn't tell because that huge helmet covered his entire face.

"Maria never said anything about that."

"Who's Maria?"

"Nobody you should concern yourself with. She is just a child."

A child was alone here?

"I am looking for her, she could be hurt."

"I'm looking for my son Richard. He isn't exactly a child, but I can't help but feel worried about him. I'm also looking for my Dad."

She could understand him; therefore she must be here to be judged.