Superhero

On that rainy night, Judy and Boyd ran toward the lights.

The night was too dark, and light always made people feel safer.

Especially in this town, where almost every house had its lights on, illuminating the rain as it fell from the sky.

Unfortunately, Judy was just a girl in the bloom of youth, and one who never exercised. All she could think was, I can't run anymore.

She glanced beside her. Boyd, the dark-skinned man, was running silently just behind her. Without him, she would have died halfway here.

Boyd still had strength to spare. Years of exercise had left him able to run farther. He wiped the rain from his face and urged Judy on. "Keep your feet moving. Do you want those things behind us to catch you?"

"I don't."

"Then run."

"My feet say they don't want to."

"So you do want those things to catch you?"

"I told you I don't." Judy looked back in despair. Those things were following at an unhurried pace.

As though they were toying with their prey.

She stared at them and failed to notice the stone at her feet. Her exhausted foot struck it.

Judy's leg buckled, and she fell into the rainwater. Filthy water soaked her clothes.

When you fell while fleeing, there was no time to get back up.

The fall frightened Judy too. She braced herself and tried to rise, but those things were closing in behind her.

Boyd saw her fall. He saw the things approaching, too. He hesitated, then gritted his teeth and said, "I'll go get help."

"You mean you're going to run away alone?"

"I'll keep running for both of us."

With those parting words, Boyd turned and ran alone into the rain ahead.

Judy could only watch him grow more