“Oh yeah,” Amber said grimly. “It’s happened one night a year for the last hundred years. Tomorrow night this town goes nuts. All the kids get put into their own little panic rooms, and all the adults turn into demons.”

Linda’s face went slack. “All of them?”

“Everyone over the age of eighteen.”

Warrick came back with Two, but as soon as the dog got within sniffing distance of Amber he stopped, his hackles raised, and started growling.

Amber backed off. “Whoa. Wow. Easy, boy.”

Kelly and the others said nothing.

“Sorry,” Amber said, keeping her eyes on Two. “Dogs usually love me.”

“You sure about that?” asked Warrick. “Two here is a very talented doggy. He can track people, he can sniff out certain substances, and he can smell a demon a mile off.”

Amber’s face went slack.

Kelly frowned. “You a demon, too, Amber?”

“Uh …”

“Time to be honest with us. Your friend is bleeding to death in the back of our van. Are you a demon?”

Amber sagged. “Sort of.”

“Two, quiet, please,” said Warrick, and Two growled a little more, then sat and scratched himself. Warrick looked at Amber. “How can you be sort-of a demon? That’s like being sort-of a Twinkie. You either are a delightful and nutritious snack or you’re not. Which one are you?”

“I … I guess I’m the Twinkie,” said Amber.

“What deal did you make?” Linda asked.

“I didn’t,” Amber said. “My parents did, and they had me, and I inherited.”

Linda clicked her fingers. “That’s why they were trying to kill you! They want to eat you!” Then she blushed. “Sorry. I’ve read about this kind of thing. Didn’t mean to get so excited, though.”

“No problem.”

“So now you’re on the run,” Warrick said wistfully. “Travelling the Dark Highway, a lone wolf. With your friend, who is another wolf. Two lone wolves. Two wolves, really. Not really alone. Two wolves in a car. Travelling. One of them naked and bloody. The other with her ass hanging out.”

“Oh God,” said Amber, one hand going to the seat of her pants. “Oh my God, my ass is hanging out.”

Kelly punched Warrick’s shoulder. “Be nice.”

Warrick rubbed his shoulder, physically hurt but emotionally wounded. “I was just saying her jeans have really taken a pounding. I didn’t mean anything by it, Amber. Honest.”

“It’s okay,” Amber said, blushing.

“So, uh … can we see?”

Amber looked at him. “Can you see my ass?”

“Oh! No! Sorry, that’s not what I … no! I meant can we see you … change?”

“You don’t have to,” said Kelly quickly.

“You totally don’t have to,” Warrick agreed. “Only, I like to draw. I’ve been working on a comic strip, like, about our adventures? Inspired by our adventures, anyway. I’ve taken some liberties.”

“A lot of liberties,” said Linda.

“A few mild exaggerations,” Warrick said.