Chapter 203: What Waits After Sunset

Lila and the group laughed breathlessly as they turned the corner, still high on adrenaline from their escape.

“I can’t believe we actually pulled that off!” Lila whispered excitedly, leaning against the wall to catch her breath.

Leitana’s heart was pounding so hard she could feel it in her throat. They had gone into the café, ordered drinks and snacks, and eaten while keeping an eye on the three bodyguards standing outside. Lila had cleverly told the guards that the owner didn’t want large men in suits scaring away customers, so they should wait outside. Leitana had reassured them she would stay visible through the glass windows.

The moment the guards looked away, one by one they slipped through the back door after getting permission from a staff member who was a friend of Lila’s. They had run laughing down the alley until they reached this corner.

Leitana pushed her curls behind her ear, still breathing fast. She turned to Kai. “Where exactly was the most recent rabid dog attack?”

Kai pulled out his phone and checked. “Wait… let me see.” After a second he looked up. “Actually, it’s not too far from here. Just two streets away.”

Leitana nodded. “Okay. Let’s go.”

They started walking, sticking close together. The sun was already setting, casting long shadows on the street. It was a little past seven, still bright enough but getting darker quickly.

Lila walked beside her. “Okay, spill. Why are we really going there? It’s late already. And the news said we should avoid that area around night time like this.”

Mikey cut in, “About that… the days are getting longer, nights shorter.”

Lila nodded. “Exactly. So why are we heading toward the place where a possibly rabid animal is attacking people?”

Leitana sighed, rubbing her arms. “You might not believe mi… but mi had a dream that Arabella Rousseau will get hurt by that dog.”

The group stopped walking, all of them staring at her in shock.

“What?” Ethan said first. “How?”

“I don’t know,” Leitana admitted quietly. “But it felt real. The dog was chasing mi, and when mi looked back, it wasn’t a dog anymore. It was Arabella… bleeding on the ground.”

Kai frowned. “Do any of you know where Arabella lives?”

Mikey nodded. “Yeah, I overheard her talking once. It’s in that suburban area near the park, the one with the older houses.”

Kai quickly googled it on his phone. “That’s… really close to the recent sightings. Like, dangerously close.”

Mia crossed her arms, looking skeptical. “But it’s just a dream. Even if she lives nearby, how are we supposed to help? We’re not detectives.”

Leitana looked down at her phone, then smiled softly. “My friend is coming.”

Ethan raised an eyebrow. “Who?”

Right on cue, a mini-van rolled up beside them. The window slid down.

In the driver’s seat was Lafu, and beside her in the passenger seat was Marco, smirking.

“Need a ride, pretty?” Marco called out playfully.

Leitana’s face lit up with relief. “Yes!”

“So are we supposed to just sit in this van guarding the area the whole night?” Mia complained, shifting uncomfortably in her seat. “It’s already been thirty minutes and my butt is numb.”

The group was crammed into the back of the mini-van, parked on a quiet side street near the reported sighting area. Tension and nerves filled the air.

Leitana turned to Lafu in the driver’s seat. “Did you bring them?”

Lafu grinned and winked. “I got you.” She reached into the back next to Mikey, who blushed when she leaned close, and pulled out a large, heavy duffel bag.

She unzipped it dramatically.

Inside were professional-grade, non-lethal animal control tools:

\- A heavy-duty capture net with weights

\- Two telescoping animal control poles (catch poles)

\- A strong muzzle and thick gloves

\- Bright LED flashlights and headlamps

\- A canister of safe animal repellent spray

\- Bait packets and motion-sensor trail cameras

The group stared.

“Holy shit,” Mikey breathed.

Mia’s eyes widened. “Are you crazy?! You actually planned to capture the animal? Leitana, this is insane! We’re not animal control experts. What if it’s actually rabid? Or bigger than we think? We could all get bitten!”

Leitana looked at her calmly. “Mi know it sounds crazy, but mi can’t just sit and do nothing if mi feel like someone is in danger. Mi dream felt too real.”

Mia turned to Ethan, exasperated. “Ethan, why are you not saying anything? This is a terrible plan! We’re college students, not ghost hunters or dog catchers!”

Ethan hesitated, then sighed. “I… I think it’s unbelievable too, but if Leitana feels this strongly about it, maybe we should at least check. She’s not usually like this.”

Mia snapped. “Of course you’d defend her! You always do!”

Lafu leaned back, smirking. “Relax. These tools are safe and professional. We’re not here to fight the dog or whatever it is, we’re here to contain and report if we see anything. No one’s getting hurt if we’re smart.”

The group started arguing in low voices some excited, some nervous, Mia still complaining the loudest.

Suddenly Kai leaned forward, staring out the window.

“Guys… we have a problem.”

Leitana turned quickly. “What’s that?”

Kai pointed. “Look.”

They all looked.

Walking down the dimly lit street, past eight o’clock, was Arabella Rousseau. She was alone, moving quickly like she was heading somewhere important. She turned the corner and disappeared from view.