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Stephanie

It had been a rough night already, and Stephanie felt her body beginning to get tired. A passing clock showed the hour hand half-past eleven, with the minute hand running quickly past the six. It was a strange thing to be feeling tired already, for though she had never been a party-girl, Stephanie's artistic nature meant she was used to her muse sucking her into all night creation sessions.

"Why am I so tired?" she mused out-loud after a particularly dramatic yawn.

"Emotional fatigue," Cindy answered in her usual mono-tone.

"Yeah... that would make sense." Silence fell on them once more while they looked at the art which covered the walls. "Why did you want to come here Cindy?"

"It seemed logical at the time."

"Oh, come on," Stephanie said as she shook her head. "There's nothing logical about this place... or this time. Why are you here?"

"Why are you here?" Cindy asked with an unusual emphasis placed on the word you.

"Boredom... curiosity... the need to feed my muse so that I may continue my artwork," Stephanie said with an amused smile.

"Artwork," Cindy said, but her tone did not allow her companion the inflection needed to know if this was a question or a statement.

"Yeah," she finally decided to take it as a question, "I'm an art major. I wanted to see the old manor with all of its artwork."

"Are you disappointed?"

"Not at all."

"Are you satisfied?"

"No," Stephanie said with a sad smile, "I want to come back here another day, if I'm allowed. I think I'll leave before dark, though."

"I see."

"What about you?" Cindy stopped walking, and though her face did not shift, Stephanie was certain the girl was trying to figure out a proper answer.

"For science," the tiny girl finally said.

"Wow," Stephanie said with a light laugh, "you really are amazing."

"I... amazing?" Cindy said as a slight lifting of her brows showed real curiosity.

"Yeah, I'm such a mathematical disaster... my college algebra class is kicking my ass, and I don't even know how I'm supposed to get through chemistry. You seem to know everything about that stuff. It's really amazing."

"Thank you," Cindy said as she stared at Stephanie in a way which made her a little uncomfortable.

"Are you alright?"

"Stephanie," the waifish girl said slowly, "it might become dangerous here in a little while."

"Wha-"

"Please listen," Cindy interrupted, and the art student fell silent. "It will be midnight in twenty-three minutes. When that happens, there will be dangers added to this place which I would like you to avoid."

"What? You want me to run away?"

"There is not enough time for you to escape, tonight," Cindy said seriously. "The most eastern building on the property is where Doctor Fredrickson lives. He can give you shelter until the morning."

"Doctor... the old man?"

"Please, Stephanie," Cindy reached out and took her hand, the magnification of hazel eyes showed concern, but Stephanie pulled away.

"I can't. I'm sorry Cindy, but I need to find Molly."

"She is well."

"What?"

"She is safe in the arms of her dark prince."

"What... her what?" Stephanie's head spun a moment as it became clear that Cindy was in on whatever Haley was planning. "What's going on Cindy? You have to tell me." The old-style clock on the wall ticked loudly in her ears as she studied the tiny girl's face. It looked as if a decision was finally reached when Cindy took a deep breath and then began to speak.

"Do you read science fiction or fantasy novels?"

"Y-yes," Stephanie blinked, taken off guard by the question.

"Do you understand the concept of a spirit world, or another dimension which is laid over our own?" Cindy asked in the way which made her sound strangest of all.

"Yeah... but..."

"On the night of what is commonly called Halloween, the barrier between our world and an adjacent world becomes thin enough that our two sides can interact. This place is particularly attuned to such an event, and as the night wares on, a great deal of activity, from that side, will cross over into this side. I know this all sounds very strange, but in twenty minutes, strange creatures will be walking through these halls and many of them will be searching for food and mates."

"Whoa, whoa... what?" Stephanie recoiled in shock, pulling her hand away from Cindy in a motion which appeared to hurt the girl's feelings.

"Do you not understand?"

"No, I understand," Stephanie said as she tried to separate up from down, "but you can't be serious!"

"It is true that the scientific community tries to cover up such things..."

"No, Cindy... no." Stephanie took a deep breath and then looked seriously at Cindy. "I can't accept what you're telling me."

"I see," Cindy said and then she looked back at the clock. "Will you believe if you see?"

"Maybe," the art student said as she took a tentative glance around.

"Come with me please. I will prove my words to you."

"Where?" Stephanie asked warily.

"To the greenhouse," Cindy said as she walked. "We can observe from there in safety and then we can quickly make our way to the Doctor's home."