Oksana grunted as she pulled herself up into a tree beside Eve's apartment complex. Generally, she prided herself on her ability to effortlessly break into any building. Tonight, however, she huffed and puffed her way to a branch near an open window on the third floor.

The window screen whined as Oksana maneuvered it, and she spat strands of her long hair out of her mouth as she worked. She paused to listen – nothing. Stepping down onto the kitchen counter, she heard the pitter-patter of little feet, then a low growl. She squinted her eyes, scanning the room until she saw two small eyes in the dim moonlight: a pug determined to defend his territory. Oksana almost laughed. She jumped off the counter, turned, and crouched to face him. He growled again. She scrunched her face up and let out her own low growl, putting both of her palms on the floor to mimic his aggressive stance. The dog yipped and scurried into another room.

Oksana pressed her ear to the apartment's main door. Faintly but surely, she heard Katie's voice coming from somewhere in the hall:

"I really did want to make sure you got home safe." Oksana rolled her eyes. Sure, she thought, her left hand clenched in a fist. As soon as she heard Eve's door close, she opened the door in front of her and shut it behind her. Katie stood only a few feet away. Her facial expression shifted from relaxed to confused in the span of a second.

"What – Oksana?" She stuttered. Instead of reply, Oksana opted to kick Katie in the stomach. She hit the ground hard, and Oksana climbed on top of her, placing her hands around the woman's throat. "Wait, Oks–," she gasped.

"What are you doing with Eve?" Oksana whispered harshly. "Answer me!" Katie gurgled, unable to respond. The sharp sound of a plastic dish being dropped echoed from inside Eve's apartment, along with a mumbled, "Shit-dammit!" Oksana's glanced in the direction it came from, giving Katie a moment to pull her legs up and through Oksana's arms, twisting Oksana's grip from her throat. She quickly stood and stepped back. Oksana was on her feet just as fast, already lunging forward. Katie held her hands up.

"Oksana, stop! I just met Eve tonight!"

"You think I'd believe that? Really?"

"C'mon, I'm not on the clock! I'm wearing my own clothes. I've got my own wallet with me!" She fumbled for her coat pocket and tossed the wallet toward Oksana, who caught it and opened its clip. Katie's bright green eyes stared back at Oksana, slightly desaturated by the Licensing Agency's fluorescent lighting. Katrina Anne Leeson. DOB: 05/24/1992. Another powerful pit of heat and anger began to form in Oksana's stomach as she realized the truth of the situation.

"You...like her?" Katie nodded. Oksana pointed to the EXIT sign behind Katie. "OUT," she demanded, still attempting to whisper. "NOW." Before Katie could reply, both women heard a door being opened. 10 seconds later, Eve poked her head out.

"Hello? Katie?" If Eve had looked a little farther down the hallway, she would've seen the two women currently fascinated by her: one against the wall for the second time in five minutes, and one with her hands over the other woman's mouth.