Ariel walked out of the apartment reloading her spare TASER cartridge as she passed the threshold. I followed closely, considering the possibility that she might leave me behind. Other than a few working lampposts, it was pitch black outside. I wondered what time it was, but I supposed it did not matter much.

“Ariel,” I requested attention as I grabbed her wrist.

Ariel stopped walking and did not protest my intervention as I almost expected she would. She gave me her full attention.

I searched for words. “Are you okay?” Those were the best ones I could find...

The Princess of Highland Park is available in eBook or paperback at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0786Q2S46