Kijani was after-hours at the library, dusting and shelving books for the morning. It was a calm, easy job for her; much better than the pace of the city. She finished up the rest of her work just as the last sliver of sun dipped below the horizon. Then she was on her way home. The greatest thing about it was that she could walk if she wanted to. This town was just that small. 

She walked along the sidewalk, wondering at the air of unease in the town. It was all due to that stranger. He'd swept into town making promises that were too good to be true. Too many people fell for it, and now look where they were.

She noticed someone she vaguely knew on the other side of the street, and decided to approach.

"Hey. Mary, right? Are you okay?" One girl alone in the dark with a leering guy? Definitely not a situation she could leave alone.