Nightwalkers

Feed

Flash yawned heavily and looked at the clock on his laptop. Only ten? He rubbed his eyes and finished the post he was typing, then submitted it and shut down his laptop. He stretched in his chair and stood up from the desk. Nothing wrong with too early a night… as long as I can get up properly. He picked up his phone and plugged in the charger cable, and double checked the alarms. Three were set to go off in half-hour intervals starting at seven-thirty. Here’s hoping. Despite attempting Cadance’s advice – watching his diet for more energy, trying energy drinks in the morning – his sleep patterns had continued to decline. He had to nap after classes every day and when he woke up lacked the energy to go out.

A knock at the door. Flash set his phone on his dresser and crossed the room to the door. When he pulled it open he stared.

Sunset Shimmer, clad in purple pajamas and carrying a rolled-up bundle under her arm, lifted a hand to wave. “Yo.”

“What are you doing here?” Flash asked.

Sunset sighed. “Can I crash here? Just for tonight?”

Flash’s eyes widened. “What?”

“My roommate brought a boy over and they’re louder than a lawnmower. I have a test tomorrow and I need my sleep.” Sunset held up the bundle under her arm. “I brought a sleeping bag.”

“Um…” Flash struggled to think of an excuse. The paranoia over the succubus dreams and the separate but more likely possibility that Sunset was trying to take him from Twilight made him want to refuse her. But he needed an excuse. “See, thing is…”

“I’m just asking for a night, I’ll be gone before you wake up,” Sunset replied. “Please? I don’t know many other people on campus yet. I figured if anyone will let me crash, it’s the dorm assist.”

Flash bit his lip. “I’d like to, but…”

“But what?”

“I…” Flash gulped. “Look, thing is, Twilight is a bit… jealous.”

Sunset’s expression darkened. “I’ll bet. And she has every reason to be.” She frowned and her expression grew softer. “Is she coming over tonight? I’ll talk to her.”

“She… no.”

“Then she doesn’t have to know.”

Flash took a shaky breath. “…Okay. One night.”

“One night. Thanks.”

Flash moved aside to let Sunset into the room. He watched as Sunset unrolled her sleeping bag over the floor, a pillow flopping out from the middle. She looked over her shoulder. “Were you going to sleep soon, or staying up?”

“Sleep.”

“Cool.” Sunset slid into the sleeping back and pulled her pillow over. “Don’t mind me, I don’t snore.”

“Okay.” Flash slowly edged around her and sat on the edge of his bed. He looked down at the top of Sunset’s sleeping head, wondering if he could come up with some sort of excuse for why he could leave. He failed. If he left now and Sunset was a succubus, she would definitely be suspicious and who knows what she would do then. And if he left and she was just a girl in need of a place to camp for the night… That’d look great on the reputation of a dorm assistant.

“Are you nervous?” Flash jerked out of his thoughts to find Sunset looking up at him.

“A little.”

“Don’t be. I don’t bite.” Sunset smirked and winked. “Unless you want me to.”

“No!” Flash said, a bit too loudly.

Sunset snorted. “It was just a joke.”

“Sorry.” Flash stared a moment more before lifting his feet up and sliding over in his bed to lay down. He reached out to the chain for his lamp, looking down at Sunset once more; her head was back on the pillow. “Good night, Sunset.” He pulled the chain and cast the room into darkness before he heard her response.

“Sweet dreams, Flash.”

The comment might have put him on alert again if the darkness of night hadn’t engulfed him in an instant as sleep overcame him and he fell onto his pillow, his eyes shut before he felt the impact.

Flash opened his eyes. The dorm room was still dark and he was still in bed. He looked down at Sunset’s sleeping bag. It was empty. “Sunset?” He swung his legs over and stood. It was a single room save the bathroom, and its door was wide open. Had she left? No, the door was still locked. “Sunset?” He took a step forward and spun to look at the bed and the window over it, the blinds drawn. He began to sweat and darted his eyes around. “…Hellfire?”

“Right here.”

Flash jumped and spun to see Hellfire behind him. He made to move back but her claws grabbed his rear and pulled him up against her. He stared into black and teal eyes, a forked tongue sliding over his lips. Flash quivered and shook his head. “This is a dream… you’re not real.”

“Half right.” Hellfire poked her tongue over her fangs. “I really was hoping to get to try you out in the waking world. I like to sample before I dig in… oh well.” She brought a hand up to Flash’s chin. “I’ve been looking forward to this night for weeks,” she whispered. “I would have made it worth your while, this last time… but I’m the jealous sort. Sorry.” She grinned. “Open wide.” She squeezed Flash’s cheeks to make his mouth open and slipped her tongue between his lips. Flash tried to pull away as she leaned it, her tongue snaking deeper into his mouth. Her lips glowed red as coals and she closed her eyes.

Suddenly the demon in front of him was gone. Hellfire yowled in surprise as she was whipped back and slammed into the wall, slumping against it. Flash stumbled back and fell on his bed. “Wha…” A flap of wings was the only sound to signal the descent of Midnight in front of him, her arm glowing with purple light as she held her palm out towards Hellfire.

“Did she feed, yet?” Midnight growled, looking over her shoulder. Flash shook his head. “Good.” Midnight turned forward.

Flash caught his breath. “Th…thank you.”

“Don’t thank me. We’ve got business to take care of after.” She cracked her knuckles and flexed her wings. “Fighting makes me hungry.”

Flash wasn’t sure to be frightened or amused by the retort.

Hellfire was back on her feet and charged, her claws extended. Midnight caught her and the two fell back. Flash rolled away as they crashed on his bed, the wood splintering and the metal bending. Hellfire slashed repeatedly but Midnight pulled aside, the red demon’s claws only shredding Flash’s mattress. Midnight raised her legs and kicked, sending Hellfire up into the ceiling. It cracked at her impact and she fell, landing in a kneeling position. Midnight stood up, the ruins of Flash’s bed collapsing in her wake.

Hellfire looked up at Midnight, her eyes blazing. She held up a claw and flexed it. “You can’t beat me. I’m probably older and definitely more powerful than you.”

“We’ll see.” Midnight dove. Hellfire’s outstretched claw lit up in red light and she turned. The same red light appeared over Midnight’s arm and pulled her through the air, past Hellfire and into the door. Hellfire was on her in an instant, raking her claws down Midnight’s back and leaving trails of fire in their wake. Midnight screeched and turned with a swing of her arm. Hellfire ducked to avoid it and was caught with a boot to the face, sending her sprawling to the ground.

Flash watched the two demons fight from the corner of the room, his dreamland dorm being destroyed as they threw each other about or were knocked back by kicks and punches. Do I interfere? For who? They apparently both want to kill me. He looked at the dorm door. Escape? This is a dream, a dream they seem to control. If I try to run they’d stop me.

Hellfire grabbed Midnight by the leg and swung, sweeping her into a shelving unit and cracking it apart. Midnight landed on her back with the shelf contents falling around her. Hellfire snarled and grabbed her shoulders to heft her up and slam her down on the edge of Flash’s desk, the wood cracking but not breaking. Hellfire raised a knee to pin one of Midnight’s legs against the desk. “Make this easier for both of us,” Hellfire hissed, leaning over her. “I’m not into killing my own kind. Back off and consider yourself lucky I’m nice.”

Midnight looked up at her with wide eyes, the blue glow fading to reveal purple irises. She blinked and stared, her mouth slowly opening. Hellfire’s face scrunched. “What?”

Suddenly, Midnight leaned up and pressed her lips against Hellfire’s.

Both Flash and Hellfire’s eyes widened. Hellfire pulled away, stumbling and wiping her mouth. “What the fuck!?”

“I’m sorry!” Midnight shook her head and clutched her hair, the black and purple waves flowing around her fingers. “I just, the dream magic, you were so close and I saw your lips and…”

“You little shit!” Hellfire snarled, slapping Midnight’s arms away. “We can resist each other’s dream magic!”

“I’ve never needed to!” Midnight protested. “I’ve never met another succubus. And the fight, I was distracted!”

“Pathetic.” Hellfire grabbed the front of Midnight’s dress and pulled her up. “Like I said, I’m older and stronger than you. Leave now and we’ll stay out of each other’s way from now on.”

“He’s my prey!” Midnight replied, regaining her ferocity. “I saw him first. He agreed to date me!”

“I gave him his first dream! Who cares what happens in the waking world, I made the first move where it counts. If you weren’t so stupid you’d recognize I’ve marked him!”

“Marks don’t mean a thing until you actually feed!”

“Which I was going to, until you interrupted!”

“Exactly!”

“HEY!” Flash’s scream got the two of them swiveling their heads to glare at him. “Are you really arguing over which of you two gets to kill me?” He demanded.

“Yes.” Hellfire said sweetly. “Now be quiet and let the adults talk.” A wave of her free claw and a band of red magic sent Flash falling back on what was left of his bed.

Midnight looked at him and smiled. “Don’t worry, once she’s gone you’ll be mine. We’ll have the whole night together.”

“Please.” Hellfire sneered. She sniffed Midnight’s mouth. “You’ve barely even begun nibbling on him after almost four weeks. Do you even know what we do, or do you think giving him sexy dreams is just so he has something to jerk off to?”

“I take my time.” Midnight turned her nose up and sniffed. “I like to savor the hunt.”

“I like to eat,” Hellfire said simply. “You give them too much time and they wander off.”

“That’s why I dated him, keep him in line. You just kept your distance. If he was gonna escape on one of us it’d be you.”

As Midnight spoke, Flash’s heart sank. “Then it’s true. Twilight?”

Midnight looked over at him and raised an eyebrow, incredulous. “You’re only just now catching on?”

“I’m surprised it took him this long. It was kinda obvious, really.” Hellfire rolled her eyes. “Twilight, Midnight? It’s not even clever.”

“And ‘Hellfire’ is so impressive a name,” Midnight muttered. She began to glow, swirls of purple magic flowing along her arms and legs. The black and purple dress shifted into a blue T-shirt with a long purple skirt. The billowing black and pink hair lightened to purple and fell straight around her shoulders. The wings folded in and withered away.

“No…” Flash slowly shook his head as the image of his girlfriend emerged from the succubus. Hellfire looked Twilight over and dropped her, the girl landing on her feet. Hellfire closed her eyes and spread her arms, red light surrounding her. Her red and yellow dress turned black and split into a jacket over a purple top. The flaming hair fell into a long mass of curls. The wings shriveled into nothingness.

“Just so we’re all on the same page,” Sunset said, opening her eyes once the transformation was done. “Ya know, in case you weren’t sure.”

“Thanks, I figured it out,” Flash said dryly. “Figures, the two hot girls interested in me at college just want to suck the life out of me.”

Sunset waved her hand through the air. “Trust me, all girls want to suck the life out of guys they meet at college. Some just do it more literally.”

“Well that’s cynical,” Twilight snorted, crossing her arms. “They’re not all like that.”

“You don’t mean to tell me you get attached to yours,” Sunset asked, a disgusted look on her face.

“Just because I’m going to kill them doesn’t mean I can’t be nice about it.”

“And do you ask permission first before sucking them dry?”

As the two fell back into their argument, Flash eyed the door again. He slowly slid down to the floor and edged behind Sunset’s legs. He reached the other side of the room and lifted a hand to the doorknob.

“Not so fast.” Red light surrounded his wrist and pulled him back, turning him and hanging him in the air beside the two. Sunset and Twilight turned their heads. “What about him?” Sunset asked. “Definitely can’t let him live now. He knows.”

“I’m still hungry.”

“So am I.”

Twilight looked at Sunset out of the corner of her eye. “You know… there’s hundreds of students here. We’ll eat, what, maybe a dozen or so a year?”

Sunset narrowed her eyes. “What are you getting at?”

“Might not be so bad to have someone watching my back. Help cover for me, get me out of a jam if something goes wrong…”

“I hunt alone.”

“So do I. But we don’t have to be enemies about it, do we?”

Sunset looked away and pursed her lip. “…No. I suppose we don’t.”

“Truce?” Twilight held out her hand.

Sunset grinned and took it. “Truce.” They shook twice.

“Shit,” Flash groaned.

Sunset snapped her hand out and sent Flash flying to the wall, a band of red magic around his waist pinning him. He fought futilely against the bonds as Sunset sashayed towards him and grabbed his collar. “What say we seal the deal by sharing a snack?”

“Sounds good.” Twilight followed her over, running her tongue over her lips.

“No!” Flash squirmed in Sunset’s grip, his fist pounding on her arm and his legs trying to kick her. If she felt any blows he struck she didn’t show it.

“Sorry, Flash.” Twilight shifted form as she spoke, turning back into Midnight. “You’re a great guy, really. But it was gonna be someone.”

Flash looked away from her back to Sunset and found himself looking up into the black and teal eyes of Hellfire.

“It’s nothing personal. But we gotta eat.”

Hellfire opened her mouth and clamped it down over Flash’s.

The moment Hellfire’s lips closed on his, pain like nothing Flash had ever known shot through his body, setting every nerve on fire. He screamed, the sound muffled in Hellfire’s mouth. The arms holding hers shook, his nails digging into her skin. Flash’s skin paled, his veins bulged, his eyes grew bloodshot. After several prolonged seconds, Hellfire broke the kiss. A green mist filled the air in the wake of their lips and she inhaled it.

“Ooooh, that’s a rush,” she whispered, shuddering. She let go of Flash to run a finger along her lips. Flash fell forward, still held up against the wall by her magic. He groaned, his voice hoarse. He gasped for breath when a pair of purple boots stepped into his field of view.

“My turn!”

A hand on his shoulder put Flash back up against the wall and Midnight leaned in to give him another kiss. More pain flooded his senses. His legs and arms twitched wildly, his feet knocking against the wall. His eyes rolled back, his vision blurred. His skin grew tight and thin, the bones beginning to show on the back of his hands. Midnight pulled back and breathed in the green mist still leaking from his mouth, licking her lips.

“I was hoping he’d be a tasty one!” She squealed in delight.

“Quit hogging him!”

Midnight was shoved aside and Flash was kissed by Hellfire again. Flash didn’t even lift his arms to fight her off, his fingers flexing against the wall and his feet shaking.

“You’re hogging him!”

Flash soon lost track of which succubus was currently kissing him, or even what they were saying. The dorm room around him faded into darkness as he closed his eyes, his arms and legs going limp against the wall.

Twilight looked down at her phone and counted off the door numbers. “3-0-8… 3-10…” When she reached 314 she knocked twice. Sunset quickly swung the door open, glaring.

“About time.”

“I’ve never been in this building before!” Twilight snapped, stepping inside. Sunset closed and locked the door behind her. Twilight stepped up to the bed and put her hands on her hips. “Well, this is a nice mess.”

The limp body of Flash Sentry lay under the sheets, his skin milky white and shriveled. His eyes were wide, staring at nothing, and his mouth hung open, his face frozen in terror.

“It’s why I called you.” Sunset walked past her and pulled the blanket off. “Help me get the mattress cover off, we’ll wrap him in it and take him to my car.”

Twilight huffed and reached to the corners of the bed. “And how are we going to get the body past anyone who sees us?”

“He got drunk at a party and we’re playing a prank.”

“Airtight alibi. Except of course anyone who knows Flash will know it’s a load of crap.”

“Oh, shut up!” With Flash now wrapped in his sheet, Sunset unlocked the dorm door and swung it open. “It’s not like you wouldn’t have had to do the same when you decided to end him.”

“I wouldn’t.” Twilight smirked as the two of them lifted Flash and began carrying him out. “I was gonna invite him on a romantic picnic to somewhere secluded. Finish him off there and dig a grave in the middle of nowhere.”

Sunset frowned. “That’s actually not bad.”

“I know.” As they got into the hall, Sunset moved to go towards the elevator. Twilight held Flash up with one hand and pulled his dorm door closed. “Why am I even helping? You’re strong enough to lift him on your own.”

“Because,” Sunset replied, “you wanted this truce, that means we help each other.”

“I think you’re just lazy.”

“And I think you’re a dumb little twit.” They reached the elevator and Sunset pushed the button. The two waited in silence, watching the numbers above the door light up. “What was that kiss, anyway?” Sunset said suddenly, narrowing her eyes.

Twilight shrugged. “Dream magic.”

“The dream magic doesn’t induce lust, it just amplifies it.”

“So? You’re hot. If you were a human I’d probably feed on you next.”

“As if I’d let you,” Sunset muttered.

Twilight’s jaw dropped. “You so would!”

“I could get any man or woman on this campus. You wouldn’t even break the top 100.”

“I happen to be very sexy!”

“In your true form, sure.” Sunset looked her over. “What’s even with that human guise? You’re too scrawny.”

“I blend in. I don’t need to have a hot human form to get them in the dream world.”

“No, but a body worth a damn would go a long way with the whole ‘girlfriend’ schtick you’re trying.”

“It’s called ‘personality’.”

“It’s called ‘B-cup’.”

Twilight let out an indignant huff as Sunset smirked. “I’m a C, thank you!” The elevator doors opened and Twilight headed in first. “Watch his head!”

Sunset rolled her eyes as she stepped in, barely pulling the top of the sheet where Flash’s hair poked out away from the door as it closed. “So what, he’s dead. If anything we should hit him on the head, make them think someone killed him.”

“And if we’re seen dumping him, they’ll look to us first!”

“They already will when he stops showing up. You’re his girlfriend, remember? They’ll question you.” Sunset smirked. “Another reason that whole attachment thing is a dumb idea.”

“I don’t do it for all of them,” Twilight defended. The elevator opened on the ground floor and Sunset moved out towards the lobby. “No!” Twilight jerked her head the other way. “Side door, the way I came in. No cameras or receptionist.”

“Good thinking.” Sunset nodded and let Twilight lead her down the hall and around the corner. Twilight pushed the doors open ahead of them and they soon emerged on a sidewalk under an orange light on the side of the building. “My car is in the parking lot. We get him there and I know a place to dump him,” Sunset said. They hefted Flash and began walking.

“Girls?”

The two froze as white light washed over them. They turned and saw Cadance watching them, a flashlight in her hand.

“Dean Cadance!” Twilight waved, keeping another hand holding Flash. “Out for a walk?”

“Grounds patrol,” she replied, coming forward and lowering the light. “What’s going on here?”

“Just a college prank,” Sunset said. “He passed out at a party, so we’re having some fun.”

“Harmless fun!” Twilight added. “Just taking him to a friend’s for when he wakes up.”

Cadance ignored them and looked down at the bedsheet. “Put him down.”

Twilight and Sunset looked at each other, then slowly lowered Flash to the ground. Cadance knelt and pulled the sheet back to look at Flash’s face. Twilight saw Sunset watching her and discretely slammed a fist into her open palm. Sunset glanced down at Cadance, her face hidden behind her hair falling over her shoulder, and swung a fist towards her head.

Cadance calmly raised a hand and caught the blow.

Sunset and Twilight stared in shock. Cadance turned her head, a bored expression on her face.

“Please.”

Sunset tried to step back but couldn’t pull free. She and Twilight watched as Cadance stood up, her eyes glowing green. Swirls of green light pulsed over her body as it transformed. The deep purple pantsuit receded into a bright green and blue gown, cut low on the breast and high on the thigh. Three-toned curled hair straightened and turned green. Her skin turned pitch black, her fingers elongating into claws. Two transparent green insect wings sprouted on her back and flittered.

Sunset swallowed. “Y-You’re…”

The transformed Cadance sneered. “I’m older and more powerful than both of you combined, I’d wager. So don’t try that again.” She flung Sunset’s hand away, the momentum making her stumble. Cadance looked down at her, taller by several inches. “What’s your name?”

“Sunset Shimmer.”

Cadance rolled her eyes. “What’s your real name?”

“Hellfire.”

Cadance looked at Twilight. Twilight nodded. “Twilight Sparkle. Midnight.”

“Cadance Amore. Call me Chrysalis.” The new succubus looked down at Flash. “I recognized the signs, especially once he mentioned the dreams. But I didn’t expect there to be two of you.”

“Yeah, it kinda just happened.” Sunset held up her hands.

Chrysalis snorted. “You got sloppy is what happened. You didn’t know about me or each other, and now you make this mess.”

“Sloppy?” Sunset asked. “I had him fine until she showed up!” Twilight stuck out her tongue.

“So you’re the one who had the brilliant idea to feed on him in his dorm room, drag his corpse outside, haul him to your car, and drive off? When any number of people or cameras would see you? When he’s a dorm assistant and of course people will wonder where he went?” Chrysalis snapped. “Are you really this stupid, or do you want humans to catch on?”

“They won’t.” Sunset shook her head. “I move around, a year or two here and I’m gone before anyone pieces it together.”

“Amateur. We’re succubi, not vagrants.” Chrysalis gave a proud grin. “I’ve been preying on these grounds for almost thirty years, and no one has even suspected. You know why? Because I’m careful. I plan things.”

Sunset recoiled in shock. Twilight stepped up beside Chrysalis. “Plan things, how?”

“Pick the right targets. The ones with no families who care about them out here. The ones who want to drop out. The ones in trouble with the law.” Chrysalis counted off on her fingers. “The ones no one will ask questions about when they leave campus with the ‘life counselor’ one day and never come back. It’s why I maintain this cover. I can keep tabs on them and pick them off at the right time without it seeming odd for them.”

“Smart,” Sunset admitted.

“Smarter than either of your plans, I’ll wager.” Chrysalis smirked and patted Twilight on the head. “Fortunately for you children, I’m here, now. And there’s a lot I can teach you.”

“What makes you think we want to learn?” Sunset said. Chrysalis held out a hand and pulled Sunset towards her in a green aura, grabbing her throat. Sunset choked as Chrysalis leaned down, glaring fiercely with glowing green eyes.

“Because if either of you fuck up like this and jeopardize my position again, I’ll drain every last bit of energy from the both of you, and toss what’s left into a wood chipper!” She snarled. Her hand loosened and she smiled sweetly. “Or, you can do things my way, and feed to your heart’s content within my rules.”

Sunset nodded quickly.

“Good.” Chrysalis loosened her grip and let Sunset fall to the ground. Green magic circled her as she shifted back into Cadance. She cracked her neck once she was back and smoothed out some wrinkles in her outfit. “I really don’t like hurting our kind. There’s so few of us left in the world, and we need to stick together.”

“What did you have in mind?” Twilight asked.

“First things first.” Cadance grabbed Twilight’s collar without looking at her and swung her forward to kiss her. Twilight struggled against her, but the kiss lasted only a moment before Cadance tossed her back onto the pavement. A wave of her hand pulled Sunset to her feet for her own kiss and she was then left to fall beside Twilight. Cadance licked the corner of her mouth, inhaling the green mist in the air through her nose.

“We just fed!” Twilight protested.

“I can tell. He was delicious. Pity you two got to him first. He was on my short list of prey. I’ll take what’s left.”

“That’s not fair!”

“It’s fair because I say it is!” Cadance snapped. “Now, pick him up. We’ll use my car. We’re taking a drunk student to a hospital.” Twilight and Sunset obediently knelt and lifted Flash’s body, pulling the sheets around to cover him again. Cadance nodded. “Good girls. You can listen to orders.”

“He’s heavier than before,” Twilight groaned.

“It’s because we need to feed again,” Sunset muttered. “That wasn’t even a full meal in the first place.”

“You’ll get one soon enough.” Cadance chuckled softly. She took out her phone and swiped through it. “I have two pathetic little dunces ready to flunk out at a moment’s notice. They’re so lonely and horny you’ll barely have to work at them to prime them for feeding. I’ll send you their information. This weekend I’ll ask you to escort them to an ‘information seminar’ for struggling students. You can feed to your heart’s content then.”

“Really?” Sunset’s face brightened. “You already have prey for us picked out?”

“I told you, I plan things.” Cadance slid her phone into her pocket and pulled out her car keys. A press of a button and her car beeped from the nearby curb, the headlights turning on. “Put him in the back and get in.” The two younger girls nodded and carried Flash towards the car.

Watching them, Cadance inhaled deeply and swept her gaze over the college grounds. Not a human was around, and she’d already paid a visit to security to make sure the cameras in this area would have their footage lost come morning. The guard would have no recollection of the night once her charm wore off, but he would brush it off as falling asleep, hardly a reason to be suspicious. Cadance turned her eyes to the two succubi slamming the back door of the car down.

They would be dead or running in two months if they kept this up. But now they’re mine. A trio of us to hunt and feed together. I won’t even need to feed anymore. I can let them do it and drink my fill from them after, let them take the fall if it comes to that. She grinned as she thought of how much she could feed with the two of them aiding her, how much her powers could grow. She could permanently encharm faculty members, move these two into positions of influence, expand her reach across the campus, pick and choose the best prey with impunity. Six hundred years of predation leads to this. The makings of a brood in my grasp. Evolution from hunter to queen. For years to come, this college will be mine to rule.

She walked to her car. Twilight and Sunset were in the back seat. Cadance pulled open the driver’s door and climbed inside. She adjusted her rearview mirror to look at the two, her eyes flashing green.

“Buckle up, girls. The three of us are going to accomplish wonderful, wonderful things together.”

The car backed up and began to pull down the drive into the street, the wrapped bedsheet barely visible in the back window to anyone who might look for it.