Karin started, turning on her heel, the sharp points of her keys jutting out toward her apparent attacker. Just as quickly the tension bled from her body, a wave of relief suffusing her limbs, loosing her white-knuckle grip from her key ring. “Fee, what is wrong with you,” she laughed. “I could’ve put your eye out.”
In spite of her gruffness she was pleased to see her sister, the willowy silhouette of her slowly coming into focus as Karin’s eyes adjusted. She smiled at the sight of her: dressed to the nines, looking more ready to go on a casual, flirtatious date than to attend a sort of evacuation of their entire building. Karin looked down to her own unflattering attire, her gym shorts and aging tee shirt hanging awkwardly on her sleep-slouched frame. She started to make a joke, some snide remark about the dangers of dating fellow tenants, future exes one would have to walk past every day. But another thought struck her, guiding her wholly on a different path.
“Do you smell that?” she asked, her brow furrowing. “Is there a fire up there?”