Dib stood at the end of the street and stared at the simple, run-down house at the end of the cul-de-sac. He glanced at a fence nearby and sure enough, there was the spray-painted graffiti sign he remembered seeing in one of the security camera feeds. Dib learned from local police that that particular gang only tagged this area of town. After assessing that fact, it was easy enough to narrow his scope down to one neighborhood.
He started walking towards the house slowly, checking around him for signs of life. Most of the houses in this neighborhood were also dilapidated, possibly even uninhabited. Certainly not a neighborhood he'd walk his dog or baby in. Maybe it looked better during the daytime.
As he drew closer to the house, he glanced about for the security cameras but couldn't see them. Something caught his attention as he passed under a broken streetlight. A voice called softly from one of the nearby houses, feminine and pressing. Crying? He turned towards the sound, frowning. A small figure crouched beside one of the two-story houses in the bushes. Dib stepped towards it.
"Hey, are you alright?"
The sounds continued, delicate, pained sobs as he drew closer. He stopped a few feet away, looking at the young female kneeling in the grass, face in her hands.
"Miss? Are you hurt?" He stepped forward and reached out. She looked up and lifted a hand to him, tear streaming from beautiful green eyes. Dib moved closer and took her hand, helping her to her feet. She sniffled, one hand clutched to her chest as she held onto his tightly with the other, gazing towards the back yard.
"My dog is missing," she whimpered. "He ran back there but I'm afraid to go alone."
Dib looked up at the yard, then back down to her.
"I'll go with you."
She nodded and moved towards the back yard, leading him by the hand. He followed, a sense of unease creeping across his senses. They stopped near the back door and looked around.
"Oh," she exhaled, "I don't see him."
"Maybe he's in the bushes." Dib looked towards the neighboring house's shrubbery. He turned back to her and something heavy fell across his temple, striking him to the ground. He blinked and watched as the girl's face leaned into his sight, eyes flashing purple. She smiled.
"Sweet human, come inside. It's cold out here."
He tried to move and she struck him again.