Сумерки

           IstillregretthatInevergottotaste...Shesmelledevenbetterthanyoudo.Sorry-Idon’tmeantobeoffensive.Youhaveaverynicesmell.Floral,somehow..."

           Hetookanothersteptowardme,tillhewasjustinchesaway.Heliftedalockofmyhairandsniffedatitdelicately.Thenhegentlypattedthestrandbackintoplace,andIfelthiscoolfingertipsagainstmythroat.Hereacheduptostrokemycheekoncequicklywithhisthumb,hisfacecurious.Iwantedsobadlytorun,butIwasfrozen.Icouldn’tevenflinchaway.

           "No,"hemurmuredtohimselfashedroppedhishand,"Idon’tunderstand."Hesighed."Well,Isupposeweshouldgetonwithit.AndthenIcancallyourfriendsandtellthemwheretofindyou,andmylittlemessage."

           Iwasdefinitelysicknow.Therewaspaincoming,Icouldseeitinhiseyes.Itwouldn’tbeenoughforhimtowin,tofeedandgo.TherewouldbenoquickendlikeI’dbeencountingon.Mykneesbegantoshake,andIwasafraidIwasgoingtofall.

           Hesteppedback,andbegantocircle,casually,asifheweretryingtogetabetterviewofastatueinamuseum.Hisfacewasstillopenandfriendlyashedecidedwheretostart.

           Thenheslumpedforward,intoacrouchIrecognized,andhispleasantsmileslowlywidened,grew,tillitwasn’tasmileatallbutacontortionofteeth,exposedandglistening.

           Icouldn’thelpmyself-Itriedtorun.AsuselessasIknewitwouldbe,asweakasmykneesalreadywere,panictookoverandIboltedfortheemergencydoor.

           Hewasinfrontofmeinaflash.