Night Owls

Jerry glanced down at the photograph in his hand, then back up again at the woman sitting alone at the back of the cafe.

She had changed very much from the teenage girl caught in that family picture during a fit of laughter, but her eyes still had a sparkle that left no doubts that she was, indeed, Linda.

All at once a blinding light coursed through the space. Jerry and the woman froze. And then a creature appeared, seemingly from the air itself.

With a quick gaze, they agreed on the necessity to act fast and talk later. Jerry crouched behind the counter and started fumbling within his backpack, while Linda started muttering words, eyes-closed, one hand open towards the creature, the other tightly holding her necklace.