The bed was lumpy and the storm outside brought with it winds that rattled the windows. I woke with the feeling that someone was watching me. I found Jonathan by the sill, fingering another piece of wood. He didn’t bother to turn away when I saw him. “What is it?” I whispered. Chris seemed to be out cold. “Nothing,” he said. “You should go back to sleep.” I sat up. The rain pounded against the windows in waves. It was still dark, but the moon offered enough light to see that it was a pretty heavy downpour. I stood beside him, looking out. There was no one about, but I could swear I caught some kind of movement in the shadows. I waited, and then caught it again; a skirting from one alley to another by a small creature with spikes on its back. It looked lean and lanky, but muscled. It skittered on all fours. It was no animal I was familiar with. Two more skirted through the shadows. “What are those?” I asked. “Howlers,” Jonathan said, pausing to study me. “She knows we’ve hidden you.
