She hadn’t meant to stay so long after work, and now she was sure to miss her bus. Up and down the block darkened windows stared back at her from closed shops, and she gave an uneasy shudder. She’d take the shortcut after all. Halfway down the alley she suddenly stopped. Something was blocking the path in front of her. Through the gray mist it seemed strangely like a shadow, hazy and still. The girl glanced nervously over her shoulder into wet, empty blackness. The shadow didn’t move. With her heart hammering she squared her shoulders and started walking again, keeping her eyes straight ahead. “You must choose,” a voice said in her ear. “It must be your choice.” The girl gasped and jumped back. My God, I didn’t hear him coming, didn’t see him move, how did he get so close so fast.… She felt the smoothness of satin brush against her arm as he towered over her. She heard the soft rustle of material and saw the long, black cape swirling around his feet. Staring, she tried to see his face, but his head was bent and his eyes were hidden.
