Her eyes hungrily absorbing whatever light there was, Regan leaned down and felt around on the ground for the piece of wood they used to keep the door propped open. It was right at her feet. Curling her fingers around the temporary doorstop, she wedged it into the two-inch space between the metal frame and the cement roof. I can’t wait to replace this door, she thought, and put in a good alarm system. A little fake grass wouldn’t hurt, either.

She stood up straight in the dark. Everything was eerily silent. She and Jack lived in a quiet neighborhood, but now it felt like a ghost town. Carefully, Regan walked over to the rickety table where they’d planned to dine this evening. The candle in the red jar with the white netting was where they left it. Score one, she thought as she picked it up.

Behind her the creaky metal door snapped shut. Regan spun around. She ran over and tried to open it but it was locked. The wedge was nowhere on the ground. This door was closed deliberately, she thought. Someone is in the apartment. They must have made the noise I heard.

Regan knew if she started yelling she’d risk the intruder coming back to shut her up, and she had nothing to use as a weapon except the candle. Let them take what they want, she thought. Her heart was pounding as she pushed herself back against the wall behind the door, ready to spring, in case the night visitor decided to reappear.

Jack was back in his car and racing through the darkened streets as fast as he felt was safe. The traffic lights were out and already there were citizens at the intersections directing traffic. He kept trying to reach Regan, but to no avail. He called their neighbor who lived below them, but she didn’t answer either.

This doesn’t make sense, he thought. Regan would have called me by now if she were okay.

When he reached their building, he grabbed the flashlight he kept in the glove compartment and jumped out of the car. Another neighbor was coming out the door.

“Jack!” she said. “I was just walking down the stairs in the dark. A guy came running from behind and almost knocked me over. I’m sure he doesn’t live here—”

Jack sailed past her. He raced up the four flights of stairs to their apartment, taking the steps two at a time. He unlocked the door and hurried inside.

“Regan!” he called frantically, pointing the flashlight around the room. “Regan!”

No answer. He ran through the rooms looking for her. In their new loft, construction debris was all over the floor.

“Regan!” he called, kicking a piece of plywood out of his way. He shone the flashlight around the room, then raced up the steps to the roof. “Regan!” he called as he pushed the door open.

Behind the door Regan dropped the candle that she had poised over her head, ready to strike, and flew into his arms. “Jack!”