"Sounds great." I smiled back and moved close so that when we went to the next station, he kept his arm around my shoulders. I enjoyed his closeness, and tried not to think of anything else, while he showed me the various sky objects the observatory had chosen to highlight that evening.
We spent a couple of hours peering through telescopes and occasionally standing by the gas firepit to warm ourselves.
"Did you want to stretch your legs before we head back to campus?"
"That sounds great."
Alex took my hand, and we went down the stairs next to each other. He seemed on the verge of saying something all the way down, and I expected him to say something once we were outside. He just tugged my hand and led me toward a path.
Low lights illuminated the concrete walkway enough to make it relatively safe, but not so brightly that the light damaged night vision for people still hoping to see more stars.
The clear night and high altitude made the sky spectacular, even without the telescope, and I stared upward as we walked. I kept bumping into Alex as I gawked at the heavens, and he kept me going down the trail.
"Pretty neat, huh?" he whispered when I bumped into him again.
"Yeah, it's really cool."
Alex slowed, and I looked around. I hadn't paid any attention to our path, but I could see a few of the parking lot lights behind us, so I thought I could find my way back if necessary.
"Sofia."
"Yes?" I turned to face him.
He took a step forward and put his hands on either side of my face, brushing my short hair back.
My heart sped up, and I met his gaze, though I left my hands at my sides, not quite sure what to do. This was a date, and I had no reason to pretend otherwise. Maybe he wanted to kiss me?
"I wanted..." He trailed off, and he looked over my shoulder, frowning. Alex muttered something under his breath and caught my hand in his. "We'll talk later. Let's get you back to campus."
"What's wrong?"
"Not sure."
Now my heart raced for another reason. Were they still after me? Should I call Doc? Not that Alex would appreciate that, but it might be worth it.
Before I could slide my backpack off so I could get to my phone, three men stepped off the path in front of us.
Alex stepped in front of me. "What's going on?"
One of them stepped forward, and I recognized Ash. He wasn't looking at me, his attention focused on Alex.
Alex took a step back and bumped into me.
Ash sneered and brought up his hands, holding them in front of himself as if he were cupping the air, before thrusting his hands toward us. What on earth was Ash doing here?
Alex swore as a ball of orange energy slammed into him. He gasped, before crumpling to the ground.
"Alex!" Was he dead? Though he didn't get up, his chest rose and fell. I didn't know how hurt he was, but at least he wasn't dead, though the expression on Ash's face indicated the other man wished he was. What did I do? They probably wouldn't be interested in Alex. He was only human. Right?
"I enjoyed that way too much," Ash growled before turning his attention to me.
I was already running. I jumped off the path and careened wildly down the gradual slope, knowing I needed to make it into the trees. Panic tried to steal what little breath I had left, but I fled anyway. Though I couldn't see well, I had been in the darkness long enough that I managed to avoid the random assortment of boulders. My legs and back jarred as the ground dropped, and I lost my balance, which probably saved me. I screamed as colorful lights zoomed over my head as I fell to the ground.
I protected my head as I tumbled down the slope, propelled by my momentum. I wasn't going so fast that the rock I ran into hurt me badly, but it didn't feel good. Gasping, I hoped my phone was still intact in my bag. I scrambled to my knees and looked back up the hill. My heart raced, and I could barely think of what to do. Call Doc. I had to get my phone.
One of the men was in sight at the top, the other two I didn't see until I caught movement further down the slope. I had a tiny head start.
The trees weren't far. I had to get to them. I wouldn't be safe, but maybe I could hide long enough to call for help. Trying to stay low, I dashed for the trees. I couldn't hear much over my harsh breathing. At least I was running downhill, or I would have been completely screwed.
The trees enveloped me just as everything behind me lit up. I hoped they hadn't seen my movement before I reached the shelter of the trees. Of course, they could probably hear me.
I had to slow. Branches I couldn't see tore at my face, at my clothing, my sweater snagged, and I ripped it free. One of the men chasing me shouted. He was far enough back that I thought I might be okay to slow down. They knew I was headed down hill, so I altered my course and hoped they didn't have some sort of magical way to track me.
After a few more minutes, I sank down next to a tree and hoped the shadows would continue to hide me. I didn't hear the men chasing me, but knowing they had magic made me wonder what all they could do, and if they could sneak up on me.
I took a few deep breaths and tried to calm myself. I didn't have long, but I had a minute. How the fuck had they found me? How the hell was this actually happening to me?
I slid the strap of my backpack purse off so I could get
