The pain she was expecting never came. A loud explosion shook the alleyway and caused the creature to lurch forward to the ground. Its tail released her. She landed in the mud.
"You weren't planning to eat another human now were you Akuma," a voice asked. Alice lifted her mud splattered head to see who it was. At the opposite end of the alley, there stood a person, cloaked in all white, the brave soul, but they were also wearing a mask. She blinked. This was getting too crazy even for her. The creature, the Akuma the person had called it, slithered around and back up the alley, forgetting about its prey. It unleashed another hiss and rushed at the person. The person cleared it in one bound. They dragged something down the spine of the creature and it cried out, swinging its tail. The person dodged it and landed in front of her. Now that they were closer, Alice could tell that it was a man fighting the creature. He looked back at her and she could have sworn his eyes widened at her.
He asked her something but had to move because the Akuma swung its tail again and was turning around for a second rush. Alice decided that the mud laden ground was no longer safe. She scrambled to her feet while slipping and sliding everywhere and ran back to the store.
She slammed the door and collapsed against it. Old William and Stan eyed her worriedly before rushing over to her side. "Good God lass," Old Will cried while grabbing her under the arm, "What happened?" She gulped in air.
"M- Monster… There was … a monster." The two men eyed each other. Stan went behind his store counter and reached for his gun.
"Will, get the girl and yourself into the hide away. Grab Mia and the baby too. I'm going to lock things up and join you shortly." Old Will nodded and pulled Alice to her feet. Mia, having heard the door slam, was standing outside the kitchen.
"What happened," she asked Old Will.
"The girl says she saw a monster outside."
"A monster? Can we be sure?"
"I'd trust this girl with my life," Old Will confirmed. "She's not one for makin' stuff up so if there is something out there, she's not lying about it. Go grab your baby Mia and get into the shelter." The woman nodded and turned to run up the stairs in the kitchen to get her baby. Old Will held Alice's hand and put his other on her back. "Easy lass, I got you." She could feel her whole body shaking and the cold was finally settling into her bones. They reached the top of the stairs with little problem. Mia was right behind them, her arms cradling the baby as best as she could while running. The baby slept peacefully despite his mother's movements. Will sat Alice down on the lone bed and went back to brace the door. There was another gun in the corner. He picked it up and sat, starring at the door. Now, came the waiting.