Early the next morning, Clark carefully knocked on Ririko's door.
He had to control his strength as much as possible so he wouldn't punch a hole through it. Otherwise, the landlady would come complaining again.
The door opened a crack from inside, and Ririko poked half her head out. She was wearing Clark's T-shirt and lounge pants. "What is it?"
Clark was already fully dressed in a dark blue plaid shirt, his camera bag slung across his shoulder. He looked as though he had already gone out and come back.
"Come take a look! Central Park has completely changed!" Clark looked excited, as though he had discovered something interesting.
Ririko rubbed her eyes. "Changed how?"
He said eagerly, "It's turned into a man-eating park."
A huge question mark appeared on Ririko's still half-asleep face.
Clark couldn't wait any longer. In a single second, he grabbed a jacket and draped it over her, then hooked her flats in one hand, wrapped the other arm around her waist, and scooped her up.
"What are you-" Before Ririko could finish, he had rushed out the door with her and Krypto, running toward the park.
The police had already cordoned off Central Park with yellow-and-black tape. Several police cars were parked by the roadside, their red-and-blue rooftop lights flashing and spinning.
Clark set Ririko down. When she looked up toward the park, she froze.
Overnight, the wooded park where residents used to relax and stroll looked as though someone had hit fast-forward-
The trees had grown several times taller, their crowns spreading like enormous green umbrellas and blocking most of the sky;
The bushes had grown wildly into person-high green barriers, their leaves wider than her face;
The grass on the lawns had shot from ankle height to knee height, and several thick vines