Crisp leaves on the ground. A distinct chill in the air. Noelle was getting excited. Autumn was her favorite season—or so she thought.
Halloween was just around the corner, and she had been too busy planning her party to notice that she was being watched.
She looked over into the treeline but didn't see the large wolf standing there. Ryker, someone everyone knows as an ordinary high school student, stepped out of the dense forest. Looking at Noelle's house intently, he stepped into the road, not noticing the cars speeding down the street.
He jumped out of the way just before a huge truck would have hit him. The driver yelled something unintelligible and shook his fist at Ryker, who yelled back, "Same to you, buddy!" and shook his head to clear it.
"I guess I should pay more attention to where I'm going," he muttered to himself. "I don't want to end up in the hospital—or worse, the morgue—before I complete my mission!"
Noelle, trying to get away from the stress of planning her party, stepped out of her house. Taking in the cool air, Noelle noticed Ryker walking past her house, looking at her. Feeling embarrassed, Ryker quickly looked away, shoving his hands into his pockets. Noelle looked at him skeptically before slowly walking back into her house.
Noelle thought to herself, "Why is Ryker walking past my house? And staring at me, to boot?" She knew he lived in another part of town, and she had never seen him in the neighborhood before.
The more she thought about it, the more confused she was by the whole situation. Never one to just sit idly by when something strange happened, Noelle made the decision to follow Ryker and ask him what was going on.
Noelle grabbed her jacket and jogged out of the front door, quickly catching up to Ryker.
"Hey, Ryker," Noelle casually called out to him, falling into step with him.
"Oh, hey Noelle. What are you doing here?" Ryker asked, slowing the pace of his walking.
Noelle, smiling to herself, looked up at Ryker and stopped walking. "I should be asking you the same question."
"What do you mean?" Ryker asked, trying to look innocent, though not very convincingly. Noelle saw right through his ruse.
With a doubtful look on her face, Noelle said, "Quit playing games with me. You know exactly what I'm talking about. Why are you in my neighborhood watching me? You don't even live here, and I've never seen you here before. What is going on?"
Ryker hesitated, trying to make something up in his head, while Noelle stood there waiting for an answer.
"I... Um..." he stammered, "I was, uh, checking out the house for the party later," he managed to say.
"Quit making excuses, Ryker! You should know that I can see right through you, considering we've known each other for three years now," Noelle said, getting aggravated.
Ryker looked away, trying to buy himself some time. A slight blush crept up his neck and into his cheeks. "Well, um... The truth is... Um... I'm keeping an eye on you because you are in danger. I don't think you can handle the situation alone."
Noelle scoffed at the notion. "Danger? Me? You've got to be kidding me. Or crazy. Nobody would hurt me."
Ryker started to worry that Noelle wasn't grasping the gravity of the situation. He grabbed her arm and turned her around. He practically dragged her back to her house. Once they were inside, Ryker locked the door behind them. "You need to listen to me. I am not kidding around here! Your life is in danger, and you will not survive if you don't listen to me!"
Noelle, starting to get scared, said, "Wh-what do you mean?" Her voice shook, and her face had gone pale.
Scratching the back of his neck, Ryker came out with the truth. "I found out that my brother, Lazarus, is going to try to murder you tonight at the party."
As soon as the words left his mouth, they heard footsteps above them. Little did they know, Lazarus had gotten into the house while they were outside.
