"Dear visitors! We're closing in twenty minutes. Please finish shooting and leave the building," the manager peeked into the room briefly and left.

Lily and I exchange surprised glances, I take out my cell phone and check the time.

"Wow, it's really 9:40," I show her the screen. "We got carried away, been here almost six hours."

"Yeah, I didn't notice how time flew by either," she let out a nervous laugh. "Amazing how fast everything goes with an interesting activity."

The manager interrupted us when Lily was trying to set up a sniper rifle on the support while I was adjusting its scope.

"You'll definitely have time to shoot, we didn't struggle with it this long for nothing," I say.

"Absolutely. If I leave without trying the last weapon, I'll be a total loser."

"Try the scope now."

Lily brings her eye to it and nods approvingly.

"Awesome, finally not blurry! Look."

She barely positions the rifle so it doesn't shake, aims and slowly pulls the trigger. A powerful shot rings out, the bullet hits exactly in the middle of the target. Lily jumps up triumphantly.

"By feeling—this is the best thing I shot today. Damn, too bad we got to the sniper rifle last."

"But you used up all the M4 ammo. Still want to buy that rifle?"

"Of course! Also the Deagle and now the sniper rifle too. John, I haven't had such fun in ages. Thanks for bringing me here and helping me overcome my shyness."

"No problem. And thank you for the company, usually I come here alone. Don't be sad, now you can come here and shoot as much as you want."

"Definitely, and you'll come with me. It'll be boring alone and I've already forgotten most of your instructions. Still don't want to feel stupid, I need a mentor for now."

"We'll discuss that later. Okay, let's go, don't want that giant kicking us out."

"Deal."

We carefully put back all the equipment and head to the exit.

It's dark and empty outside, with only the sound of cars in the distance indicating human activity. I had never been in this area this late before.

After crossing the shooting range's threshold, I suddenly remember my "special" housing circumstances. This cools my emotion-filled head and worsens my mood. Need to urgently decide where to sleep.

Somehow I forgot that I'm not cool enough to walk around here at night. Such a long date was a mistake. Rob and Sharon go to bed around this time, maybe I won't make it or they won't take me seriously, I thought, weighing the options.

"Lily, it was fun hanging out with you, but time to split up. I urgently need to sort out one vitally important problem."

The girl stood opposite and stared at me intently. She smiled conspiratorially.

"John, close your eyes."

"I really have time pressure, the situation isn't good at all."

"Just close them, want to give you something before goodbye."

"Okay, but quickly," I waved off, "because everything's really serious."

I close my eyes, continuing to think through my plan.

"I think you won't need to sort anything out."

"Wha—"

I don't finish the word as warm lips cover my mouth. I immediately open my eyes—at the same time Lily tightly hugs my neck. Only after a couple seconds does my brain realize what's happening.

What the actual fuck?!

I naturally blush, Lily kisses more aggressively and doesn't release her embrace. All this seems like some surreal nonsense, I'm immediately hit with mild derealization.

Well, she kisses nicely, I think distractedly, not knowing what to do. Lily, what are you...?

Many conflicting feelings wash over me. Instinctively, I want to give in and kiss her back, but then I won't be able to look Rob in the eye normally, and I already feel bad enough.

For some reason I can't break free, can only wait and endure.

The kiss lasts about two minutes, after which she runs out of oxygen and pulls away, I catch my breath too.

"I take it you're not used to showing initiative at all. Well nothing, we'll have plenty of time for you to stop being shy," she said slyly after catching her breath.

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

"Plenty of time...?"

"Yes... With my lessons you'll become the best in school. But of course, kisses aren't the only thing we'll be doing," she whispered sweetly in my ear. The girl tries to slide her hand down, but I jerk away and gently step back.

"Sounds tempting, but I'll pass," I barely maintain a calm expression. "Don't know why you started doing all this, but I really have a serious problem."

This move destroyed all complex theories about her goal. Turns out... she was just looking for someone for one night? Very strange that her choice fell on me... but okay.

Actually, it's not a bad option. At least the housing problem would be solved for today. But Rob... I can't betray our friendship.

"Oh come on, don't be difficult," she protested. "I promise no one will know anything, including your friend. I'll call a taxi now and we'll continue the evening—"

"No, Lily, I'm serious, I need to go. And I'm not so easily made to betray a friend. Sorry I didn't meet expectations. See you."

I smile goodbye and turn around, but the girl suddenly grabs my hand and turns me back. In a second, she turns completely pale and her playfulness turns into wild horror.

What the hell???

"You're joking, right? Sorry if I rushed or offended you somehow, won't act or speak so abruptly anymore. Let's delete the last few minutes from memory," her voice became stammering and lost all intonation. She started resembling a robot or very bad actor.

I'm shocked by how radically she changed and can't imagine what put her in such a state.

"Lily, are you okay?" I ask cautiously. Meanwhile trying to break free from her grip... but can't even detach one finger. Her hand is abnormally rigid and strong.

"Y-yes, I just want to continue spending the evening with you, without rushing things. So... want to come over for tea? Just tea, no implications."

She tries to smile as usual, but it comes out as a creepy parody. Horror is deadlocked in her, she's shaking.

And what am I even supposed to do?

I'm starting to feel uneasy myself, the desire to run away shoots through the roof.

"Lily, what happened to you? Did you lose some bet to someone?"

"No, I want to continue our date... And then arrange the next one."

The next one? What is she even thinking about?

"Uh... Lily, I'm not joking, I need to go, we can talk about dating later. I have a very important matter, you're holding me up."

I try to break free again, but nothing works. It's like she's bound me with steel chain.

Where does she get such grip strength?! She's a head shorter than me.

"John, I don't know what you need, but if you come with me, I promise to help solve it or compensate. Please, let's just continue the date. If it's because of your friend, I swear he won't find out anything. Do you really dislike me that much?!" at the end she nearly breaks into screaming. Combined with the empty street, the atmosphere becomes truly unsettling.

"Lily, you can't solve this. Just let go and let me go. I'm freaked out by your sudden change. I can promise we'll continue tomorrow."

I don't really want to talk to her after that, but I have to say it.

Lily lowered her gaze, thinking about something. This lasts about a minute, then her horror subsides slightly.

"O-okay, if you can't today, then tomorrow. I'll let you go on condition that you forget all your business and go home. We'll meet in the same music room at the same time. Stay home tonight and don't go anywhere. Also swear you won't tell your sister about our date," her tone changed to authoritative.

"What? What does Jane have to do with this?" the conditions seem strange and disconnected to me.

"Swear you'll do everything listed. And I need your phone number," she said rather rudely.

Need to use this opportunity, Lily isn't asking anything difficult.

"Okay, write it down."

I dictate the numbers, she enters them in her phone and I immediately receive a verification message.

"Not just okay, but swear," she insists.

"I swear I'll do everything you said."

"Excellent."

She looks at me distrustfully but finally releases her hand. I rub my aching wrist with relief.

"Thanks, good night," without wasting a second, I turn and step forward.

"Don't forget about tomorrow's meeting!" she calls sweetly after me.

I pay no attention. All my thoughts are on how to get out of her sight faster. I feel her dissatisfied and intense gaze in my back all too well.

##

After walking two streets and making sure Lily wasn't following me, I turned toward the city center. What happened left a very strange imprint, like I was mentally burned out.

Finding a place to sleep suddenly dropped from priority, because of this feeling all external factors ceased to matter. I just wanted to walk and think about nothing, trying to find peace and relaxation.

I immersed myself and imagined being transported to that waterfall dream. It helped somewhat, but maintaining this illusion was difficult.

The "burnout" only weakened when I reached the center. Seeing the tallest glass building in the city, I suddenly felt intense fatigue and collapsed onto the nearest bench.

It was deserted around, time had passed 11. Among spam notifications was a message from Lily wishing me good night and expressing hope that everything would turn out "better."

And what attracted her to me? Couldn't find someone else? Wanted some thrill...?

I replayed all of my interaction with Lily in my head, from meeting her in the music room to saying goodbye. The feeling that something was wrong and not understanding her motivation, plus the fierce desire to get me to her home, finally pushed the situation into mystical territory. She couldn't be some kind of maniac, could she?

I take the juice bottle from my backpack, gulp down the remains and toss it aside. Understanding comes that each moment of inaction only worsens my position and now isn't the time for emotional suffering and mysterious theories.

The Lily situation gets postponed until morning, I return to the shelter problem.

Need to perfect the original plan. Tomorrow I'll develop tactics for living in the house while hiding traces of my presence. It's equally my house too, and I'm not going to listen to Jane's idiotic orders without reason—

~ Crack.

My thoughts are interrupted by a strange loud sound coming from somewhere nearby but out of sight. I can't imagine its source.

I write it off as imagination and go on thinking.

Looks perfect. Today Jane will relax and won't expect me back anytime soon. This is much more interesting than bouncing between friends. Just need to decide...

I go to contacts and consider who to wake—Rob or Sharon. Rob often stays up late online and might still be awake, plus it's cheaper to get to him. But after kissing Lily, being near him would be... pretty uncomfortable.

It takes longer to get to Sharon and she might get a bit angry that I'm disrupting her sleep schedule. However, there won't be discomfort with her.

~ Crack.

Suddenly the strange sound repeats, but closer. Due to better hearing it reminds me of the metallic clang that a huge axe makes when hitting the ground in one game.

In the middle of the night the sound is strange, but... probably just someone having car trouble.

Until things settle with Lily, better not bother Rob. So, visiting Sharon.

~ CRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK.

I had just opened her contact when the sound was repeated nearby, followed by a bloodcurdling scream. Cautiously, I looked up from my phone and looked around—and in that instant, a person covered in scratches and blood crashed into the nearby lamppost. The person falls backwards to the ground and continues to scream horribly.

What the hell is this?! I'm stunned.