Georgia leaned into it, and a last glimpse of the freeway flashed in her rearview mirror. A tight patchwork of lights blanketed the rolling hills in the distance. She bit back a sigh, silently promised herself a long, leisurely ride sometime soon. Buoyed by the thought, she left the open road behind.

This part of town always threw her. It was as close to suburbia as a major city could get. Georgia eased back on the engine and fell into the gentler pattern of the traffic. A new song filtered through the helmet's speakers: _The Death of Coyote Woman_. More All Them Witches. Apparently her phone's shuffle had settled on a theme for the night.

Georgia reached up and ticked the volume higher.

Several more turns and a roundabout later, sheher grasp.

Before she had a chance to register horror, she was airborne. The low concrete banister surrounding the patio abruptly ended her flight. Gasping, Georgia staggered to her feet, pain shooting through her side. Blood leaked from her nose.

A shadow moved towards her, stark against the cream-colored stones. Georgia could only stare, eyes wide, as it stepped into the faint light cast by the last remaining patio lamp. It was definitely not human. It almost looked like a dog, except that dogs didn't walk on two legs. Dogs couldn't grab you, couldn't throw you like this had done.

No, not a dog. Something else.

Georgia crouched against the banister, searched in vain for an alternate escape. No good. There was nowhere for her to go. The creature knew it too.