Mari found herself reading the milk carton at two in the morning. Usually, she was a very heavy sleeper, not one to wake up until it was time to get up for work or school or some adventure she had planned. Tonight, however, she feared that the many gallons of water she drank while watching reruns of Will & Grace was going to be the death of her. It had been the third time she'd gotten up to use the bathroom, and now, of all the crazy things, she was thirsty and craving milk. It was just like her to have an adventure at 2 AM by herself in her kitchen.
After pouring herself a glass, she returned the milk carton to its proper place and closed the refrigerator door, taking a sip and... "Mmmmm." There was nothing like satisfying a craving, especially at two in the morning. She smiled at cold glass of milk in her hand with full intentions of returning to bed once she was through and sleeping for the rest of the night. Little did she know, that was not going to be the case.
Before taking her last sip of milk, Mari heard a noise come from outside. Her eyes immediately flew to the window in her living that faced the street. Even though the curtains were drawn, she couldn't help but stare at it, fear building up inside her for a moment before she slowly crept toward it. Her finger broke through the curtain, pushing it gently aside. And what she saw outside was enough to make her drop her nearly empty glass of milk. "Dios mio."
Any other person would have stayed hidden behind the curtain or run off to bed. Any other person wouldn't have gotten involved in the situation. Any other person would have been more worried about their own safety rather than that of anyone outside at two in the morning. But not Mari. Grabbing a robe, she slipped it around her and burst out the door. Even in the dim moonlight, she could tell who it was. "Dietre?" He was her neighbor. She'd seen him around but never like this, never at this time. "Sweetie, are you bleeding? Is everything okay?"