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〃I'm getting popcorn。 Do you want any？〃
〃No； thanks。〃
Someone shushed us from behind。
I took my time at the concession counter； watching the clock and debating what percentage of a
niyminute movie could be spent on romantic exposition。 I decided ten minutes was more than enough；
but I paused just inside the theater doors to be sure。 I could hear horrified screams blaring from the
speakers； so I knew I'd waited long enough。
〃You missed everything；〃 Jess murmured when I slid back into my seat。 〃Almost everyone is a zombie
now。〃
〃Long line。〃 I offered her some popcorn。 She took a handful。
The rest of the movie was prised of gruesome zombie attacks and endless screaming from the
handful of people left alive； their numbers dwindling quickly。 I would have thought there was nothing in
that to disturb me。 But I felt uneasy； and I wasn't sure why at first。
It wasn't until almost the very end； as I watched a haggard zombie shambling after the last shrieking
survivor； that I realized what the problem was。 The scene kept cutting between the horrified face of the
heroine； and the dead； emotionless face of her pursuer； back and forth as it closed the distance。
And I realized which one resembled me the most。
I stood up。
〃Where are you going？ There's； like； two minutes left；〃 Jess hissed。
〃I need a drink；〃 I muttered as I raced for the exit。
I sat down on the bench outside the theater door and tried very hard not to think of the irony。 But it was
ironic； all things considered； that； in the end； I would wind up as a zombie。 I hadn't seen that one ing。
Not that I hadn't dreamed of being a mythical monster once—just never a grotesque； animated
corpse。 I shook my head to dislodge that train of thought； feeling panicky。 I couldn't afford to think about
what I'd once dreamed of。
It was depressing to realize that I wasn't the heroine anymore； that my story was over。
Jessica came out of the theater doors and hesitated； probably wondering where the best place was to
search for me。 When she saw me； she looked relieved； but only for a moment。 Then she looked irritated。
〃Was the movie too scary for you？〃 she wondered。
〃Yeah；〃 I agreed。 〃I guess I'm just a coward。〃
〃That's funny。〃 She frowned。 〃I didn't think you were scared—I was screaming all the time； but I didn't
hear you scream once。 So I didn't know why you left。〃
I shrugged。 〃Just scared。〃
She relaxed a little。 〃That was the scariest movie I think I've ever seen。 I'll bet we're going to have
nightmares tonight。〃
〃No doubt about that；〃 I said； trying to keep my voice normal。 It was inevitable that I would have
nightmares； but they wouldn't be about zombies。 Her eyes flashed to my face and away。 Maybe I hadn't
succeeded with the normal voice。
〃Where do you want to eat？〃 Jess asked。
〃I don't care。〃
〃Okay。〃
Jess started talking about the male lead in the movie as we walked。 I nodded as she gushed over his
hotness； unable to remember seeing a nonzombie man at all。
I didn't watch where Jessica was leading me。 I was only vaguely aware that it was dark and quieter now。
It took me longer than it should have to realize why it was quiet。 Jessica had stopped babbling。 I looked
at her apologetically； hoping I hadn't hurt her feelings。
Jessica wasn't looking at me。 Her face was tense； she stared straight ahead and walked fast。 As I
watched； her eyes darted quickly to the right； across the road； and back again。
I glanced around myself for the first time。
We were on a short stretch of unlit sidewalk。 The little shops lining the street were all locked up for the
night； windows black。 Half a block ahead； the streetlights started up again； and I could see； farther down；
the bright golden arches of the McDonald's she was heading for。
Across the street there was one open business。 The windows were covered from inside and there were
neon signs； advertisements for different brands of beer； glowing in front of them。 The biggest sign； in
brilliant green； was the name of the bar—OneEyed Pete's。 I wondered if there was some pirate theme
not visible from outside。 The metal door was propped open； it was dimly lit inside； and the low murmur
of many voices and the sound of ice clinking in glasses floated across the street。 Lounging against the wall
beside the door were four men。
I glanced back at Jessica。 Her eyes were fixed on the path ahead and she moved briskly。 She didn't look
frightened—just wary； trying to not attract attention to herself。
I paused without thinking； looking back at the four men with a strong sense of déjà vu。 This was a
different road； a different night； but the scene was so much the same。 One of them was even short and
dark。 As I stopped and turned toward them； that one looked up in interest。
I stared back at him； frozen on the sidewalk。
〃Bella？〃 Jess whispered。 〃What are you doing？〃
I shook my head； not sure myself。 〃I think I know them…〃 I muttered。
What was I doing？ I should be running from this memory as fast as I could； blocking the image of the
four lounging men from my mind； protecting myself with the numbness I couldn't function without。 Why
was I stepping； dazed； into the street？
It seemed too coincidental that I should be in Port Angeles with Jessica； on a dark street even。 My eyes
focused on the short one； trying to match the features to my memory of the man who had threatened me
that night almost a year ago。 I wondered if there was any way I would recognize the man； if it was really
him。 That particular part of that particular evening was just a blur。 My body remembered it better than my
mind did； the tension in my legs as I tried to decide whether to run or to stand my ground； the dryness in
my throat as I struggled to build a decent scream； the tight stretch of skin across my knuckles as I
clenched my hands into fists； the chills on the back of my neck when the darkhaired man called me
〃sugar。〃…
There was an indefinite； implied kind of menace to these men that had nothing to do with that other night。
It sprung from the fact that they were strangers；