"My God, that was no dream!"

"Shut up. We got the door open, I forget how, and it basically led to Hell. And my cousin Kimberly and your sister and all of the other women were there, floating on this pier in a lake of lava, tied up with serpents. I knew it was them even though none of them had faces. And we both knew that we could've just turned around and walked back out that door. I know this because I could hear your thoughts. But we didn't. Somehow we could tell that the lava wouldn't burn us, maybe because we didn't belong there, so we swam out to the pier and untied the snakes. Then Satan showed up and I woke up."

"That's a very interesting dream you had there," said Charlene.

"I know, right?"

"Is it coincidence that you met me and now you're having dreams about the devil?"

"My takeaway from the dream is that you were willing to follow me into Hell."

Travis stepped into the back room and tapped his wrist where a watch would be if he were wearing one. Normally Charlene would make a wise-ass remark, but after yesterday she thought she should be on her best behavior for a few days.

Breaks were staggered, and it was an insanely busy night, so they didn't get to resume their conversation until shortly before closing time. Charlene still had a couple of tables when Gertie clocked out.

"Any plans for tonight?" Charlene asked.

"Nah."

"You sure?"

"Nothing like what you're talking about," said Gertie. "I have a date with Netflix, sweatpants, and Chinese carryout."

"You don't have to lie to me."

"I'm not lying."

"One of my skills, and I have many, is that I can tell when people are lying. So when you avoid eye contact, even though all you're doing is telling me about a pleasant evening at home, I have to assume that you're headed out to use yourself as bait."

"All right, busted."

"Why would you lie about that?" Charlene asked.

"Because I'm kind of embarrassed that I told you in the first place. It makes me sound...less than completely stable."

"It does. I'm not going to spare your feelings and pretend it doesn't. However, I've been thinking about it for this whole shift, and I'd like to help you."

"Wait, what?"

"I'm serious."

"Is one of your other skills messing with people?"

"It is, but not right now. I think what you're doing is dangerous and misguided but it comes from a good place, and I want to help keep you safe."

"We can't stick together, though. Only one woman has gone missing at a time. There'd be safety in numbers, and even if he does see us, he'll probably leave us alone."