I don’t think she knows how to be on her own. Since his death, she’s been at my house every day and night and when I’m at the cafe, she usually likes to hang out in the lobby talking off anyone’s ear that’ll listen.

As I walk, the tension loosens in my shoulders, “Hey there!”

The sudden shout startles me out of my thoughts. For a split second, I wonder if Selene and her menace have come back—only the voice is deeper, with a bit of an accent I can’t place. Turning on my heel, I see a man jogging up the trail towards me.

He’s tall, with a lean build, dressed in hiking gear that looks well-worn but expensive. His forest green jacket is scuffed at the seams, like it has seen its fair share of trails, and a sturdy pack is thrown over one of his shoulders. A scruffy beard frames his angular face, and his dark, almond-shaped eyes lock onto mine with an intensity that makes me instinctively straighten.

Predatory.

That’s the word that flashes through my mind. Not in the way an animal is—wild and impulsive— but calculated—like he knows exactly how to move through a space without being noticed. Like he chooses when to be seen.

“Sorry to startle you,” he says, slowing down to a walk as he gets closer. His voice is smooth, and measured, with that same unplaceable accent threading through it. “Name’s Bennett. You wouldn’t happen to know if the trail loops back to town would you?”

I hesitate for just a beat too long. There is a familiarity about him that I can’t quite place. The way he stands, with his shoulders back and hands loosely by his sides–not to mention the way he’s staring into my eyes–seems like he already knows the answer to his question.

“Yeah, it does,” I finally say. His eyes linger on mine before darting to the trail behind me, like he’s expecting someone else to be there.

“Thanks,” he says, giving me a nod. “I’m in the area for work, figured I’d explore it a bit.”

“This is one of our main trails. There are tons of little ones that branch off to make the mainstream longer or shorter, but they all end in the same place—leading back to town. Just follow the signs for the main trail and you’ll find yourself back where you started.”

Bennett adjusts the strap on his pack. “Makes sense,” he says. His eyes drift past me again. “Nice place for a walk. Or to think.” His tone is light and casual, but the way he holds himself puts me on edge.

“Yeah,” I say carefully. “Been coming here for a long time.”