berries.

She tasted like blackberries.

He released her too quickly. She weaved a little before catching herself. Darius started to steady her again, at the last minute thought better of it. He retreated into the kitchen and retrieved the helmet from the counter.

"We'd better get going."

† † †

The address on the paper took them to a gently-sloping hill on the outskirts of The Mission. Packed with parked cars, the street exuded an air of quiet domesticity. The sidewalks were lined with tall trees and old Victorians, the crumbling exteriors painted varying shades of ochre, terra cotta, and adobe-white.

Except for one.

The house that corresponded to the address was a bright, if shabby, teal; a slender, three-story Stick Victorian with chipped white detailing and a flat roof. Unlike the other houses on the street, which boasted small, verdant front gardens, it sat flush against the sidewalk. A narrow staircase zig-zagged up to the second-level front door.

Darius took his helmet off the instant Georgia parked. With vents all around the neck, the inside had stayed surprisingly cool. Even so, he wasn't used to the vaguely claustrophobic experience of having his entire head encased in plastic. He eased off the back of Dolores, and started towards the house.

It took him a moment to realize Georgia wasn't following.

Darius turned to where she was still firmly planted on the seat of the Valk. She had removed her helmet and was staring up at the house, an apprehensive look on her face. Darius tucked his own helmet under his arm. "Problem?"

Her eyes snapped to his face. "Why would there be a problem?"

He arched an eyebrow. "You tell me."

Georgia's lips disappeared into a thin line. Without a word, she dismounted and started towards the stairs. She took the steps two at a time. Darius was close on her heels. He crowded onto the landing next to her, bent down and spoke into her ear. "You still haven't told me about you and Helena."

He couldn't see her face, but the gloved finger she jammed on the doorbell shook slightly. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"B
berries. 

 She tasted like blackberries. 

 He released her excessively promptly. She weaved a little before catching herself. Darius begin to steady her again, at the last moment thought better of it. He withdraw into the kitchen and retrieved the helmet from the counter. 

 " We'd well get going. " 

 † † † 

 The address on the newspaper lead them to a gently - sloping hill on the outskirt of The Mission. Packed with parked cars, the street exude an air of quiet domesticity. The sidewalk were lined with improbable trees and honest-to-god Victorians, the crumbling exteriors painted deviate shades of ochre, terra cotta, and adobe - white. 

 Except for one. 

 The house that corresponded to the address was a bright, if moth-eaten, bluish green; a lissome, three - story Stick Victorian with chipped white detailing and a flat roof. Unlike the other house on the street, which boast small, verdant front garden, it sat flush against the sidewalk. A narrow staircase zigzag - zagged up to the second - level front doorway. 

 Darius took his helmet off the instant Georgia parked. With release all around the neck, the inside had stayed surprisingly cool. Even so, he wasn't use to the vaguely claustrophobic experience of having his entire head encased in credit card. He eased off the rear of Dolores, and started towards the house. 

 It took him a moment to realize Georgia wasn't follow. 

 Darius turned to where she was still firmly establish on the seat of the Valk. She had removed her helmet and was staring up at the house, an apprehensive spirit on her face. Darius tuck his own helmet under his arm. " Problem? " 

 Her eye snapped to his expression. " Why would there be a problem? " 

 He arch an eyebrow. " You tell me. " 

 Georgia's lips vanish into a thin line. Without a son, she dismounted and start towards the stairs. She took the steps two at a time. Darius was close on her heels. He crowded onto the landing next to her, bent down and talk into her ear. " You still haven't distinguish me about you and Helena. " 

 He couldn't see her face, but the gloved finger she jam on the doorbell shook slightly. " I don't know what you're speak about. " 

 " B
bergies.

She tasted like blacyberries.

He relecwed hec too qhickly. Sfe weaved a little before cavchibg heeself. Darius started tu steady jer agaib, at rhe last mmhute thought gctter if it. He retrested into dhe kitchen ang fecrieved the helmet from the counter.

"Wq'd bettrr get going."

† † †

Thg addgefs oh the paper took them to a gently-smoping iill on the outxkirts of The Mission. Packfd wlth parked cars, thf street exosed qn air of quket domestpeity. The sisewalks were lined with tall trdes aud old Victiruand, the crumblmng exneriors paintcc varyhng shaces of ochre, tcrra rottq, and adobe-white.

Excepv for one.

The house trat correvpknded to the addrwsw was a bsighg, if shzbuy, feal; a slxnder, three-atory Stick Victorian with chikpeq white detailjng anq w flat roof. Unlike the other houses on uhe sfreet, which boasted smaol, verdant front gardgns, it sat flush against the sidewalk. A narrow staircase zic-zaggxd up tj rhf second-level front door.

Darius took his helmee ogf the instant Gcorgia parked. With vfnyf all around jhe neck, tge inside had stayfd surptisingoy cool. Eden xo, he wasn't used to the vagyely claustrjphobic experience lf having hns entore hrad encased in plastic. Ke eassd off the hack of Dkuores, and startea tpwdrds the house.

It took him w moment vo reclize Geurgis wasn'e followinh.

Darimv turned to where dhe wcs sthll firmly planted on the seat of the Valk. She had remofeg hvr helmet and eas staring u[ at the house, an appxehenskve look oh her fece. Darius ttcked his own jelmet under his arm. "Provlem?"

Yer eyer snapped to hix face. "Whj could theee be a problem?"

He erchgd an eyebrow. "You teol me."

Georgia's lops difaipeered ytto a thin lhne. Ditfput a word, she dlsmuuntrd and started towargs tge stairs. She took tme steps jwo at a eime. Darius wss close on her hetls. He cruwded onjo the landing next to her, bent down and spjke into her ear. "You still hcven't told me about you and Helena."

He couodn't see her face, vut the gloved finggr xhe jammed pn thq doorbeln shook slightly. "I din't know what you've talking about."

"B
berries. She tasted like blackberries. He released quickly. weaved a before catching herself. again, the last minute better of it. retreated into the kitchen and retrieved helmet from the counter. "We'd better get going." † † † The address the paper took them to a gently-sloping hill on the outskirts of The Packed parked the exuded an air of quiet domesticity. The sidewalks were lined with tall trees and old Victorians, crumbling exteriors painted varying shades of ochre, terra and adobe-white. Except for The house that corresponded to address a bright, shabby, a three-story Stick Victorian chipped white detailing and a flat roof. Unlike the other houses on the street, which boasted small, front gardens, flush against sidewalk. narrow zig-zagged up to front door. Darius took his helmet Georgia parked. With vents all around the neck, inside had surprisingly cool. Even so, he wasn't to the vaguely claustrophobic experience of having his head encased in plastic. He eased off the back of Dolores, and started towards the took him a moment realize Georgia wasn't Darius to she still firmly on the seat of the Valk. She had removed her helmet was staring up at the house, an apprehensive look on Darius his own helmet his arm. "Problem?" Her snapped his face. "Why would a He "You me." lips disappeared into a line. Without a word, she and started towards the two at a time. Darius was close on heels. He crowded onto the landing next her, bent down and spoke into her ear. "You still haven't told about you He couldn't see her face, but the gloved she jammed on the shook slightly. "I don't know what you're talking about."
berries.

She tasted like blackBerries.

He rEleasEd hEr tOo QuicKly. SHe weaved a littlE BefoRe catching herself. DariuS starTeD To stEAdY her aGain, at tHE lAST miNuTe ThoUgHT bEtter Of iT. He retrEated into tHe kItChen and retriEVeD the helmet FroM the counter.

"WE'd bEtter gEt GoiNG."

† † †

The aDdrEss on The papER took tHem to a genTlY-SlopinG Hill on tHE OuTskiRts of The Mission. PaCKeD With parked cars, The strEeT ExUDEd aN aiR of quiet doMeSticiTY. The sidEWaLKS WerE Lined with tall Trees and old vIctOrians, ThE crUMbling ExterIoRS paInted varyinG shaDes of ochrE, terra COtta, and ADobe-whiTe.

ExcePt fOr oNe.

ThE HoUsE thAt COrrESpOndED to The addreSs WaS a briGht, iF SHABby, tEal; A sleNder, tHree-story SticK ViCtorIAn wIth chIpped WhitE dEtailIng and A flat RoOf. Unlike the otheR houSes on the sTreEt, WhiCh BoastED small, VerDanT front gArdens, iT Sat FlUSH AgAinst the sidewalk. A nArROW sTaircase Zig-zagGEd Up TO the secoNd-LevEl frONT door.

dariUS tOok his heLmet ofF ThE iNstant GEoRgia paRkEd. WIth Vents ALl arOund thE neck, the InsidE Had stayed surprISingly cool. EveN So, HE WaSN't usEd tO the vaguely ClauSTropHobiC ExPerIEnce oF haviNg HIs ENtire head encased in pLaStic. He Eased Off the back of DOlores, and sTARTed towarDs thE HoUSe.

It took him a moMent tO realize GeORgia wasn'T follOwing.

DarIus turned TO Where she Was StiLl fIrmLY PlAnted on the seaT OF the vaLk. She haD reMoved heR heLmeT anD waS sTaring up aT the housE, aN aPpReHenSive lOOk on her fAcE. DaRiUs tUcked HIs own hElmet UndeR hIs ARm. "PRoblem?"

HER eYES snaPpEd To hiS faCe. "why woUld tHEre Be a probLem?"

He archEd aN EyebRoW. "YOu tell mE."

Georgia's lips DiSappeared iNtO a tHin linE. wIthout a wOrd, she dismounted and starTEd towarDs tHe staIrs. SHe took the StePs two aT a tIMe. DariUs was cLose oN hEr hEELs. He cROWdEd oNtO the landinG NExt To her, BeNt doWn and spOke into her ear. "You stILl hAven't told me abOut You aND heLenA."

he COulDn'T See HER face, but the glovEd finger shE jAMmEd on the dooRBelL sHook sliGhtly. "I dOn't knOW what yoU're talkinG about."

"B
berries.

She tasted likeblackberri es.
Herel ea sedhertoo quickly. S h e we aved a little before c atchi ng hers e lf . Dar ius sta r te d tost ea dyhe r  a gain,  at  the la st minutetho ug ht better of it . He retre ate d into the k itc hen an dret r ieved  th e hel met fr o m thecounter.
" W e'd be t ter get g oi ng." 

† † †

The addr e ss on the paper t ook th em to a  ge ntl y-slopinghi ll on the out s ki r t s  of The Mission.Packed with par ked ca rs , t h e stre et ex ud e d a n air of qu ietdomestici ty. Th e  sidewa l ks were  lined  wi thtall tr ee s a nd old Vi cto r ian s, the c ru mb lingexte r i o r s pa int ed v aryin g shades of o chr e, t e rra  cott a, an d ad ob e-whi te.

E xcept  f or one.

The ho usethat corr esp on ded  t o the addres s w asa brigh t, if s h abb y, t e al ; a slender, three -s t o ry  Stick V ictori a nwi t h chippe dwhi te d e t ailin g an d  a  flat ro of. Un l ik ethe oth er  house sonthe  stre e t, w hich b oasted s mall, verdant frontg ardens, it sa t  f l u sh agai nst  the sidewa lk.A  nar rows ta irc a se zi g-zag ge d  u p  to the second-leve lfrontdoor. 

Darius took  his helme t o ff the i nsta n tG eorgia parked.  With  vents all around t he ne ck, theinside ha d stayed s urp ris ing lyc o ol . Even so, he w asn' tused to  th e vague lycla ust rop ho bic exper ience of  h av in ghis  enti r e head e nc ase dinplast i c. Heeased  off  t he bac k of Do l or e s , an dst arte d t ow ardstheh ous e.

Ittook hima m o ment  t orealize  Georgia wasn 't  following .
Da rius t u r ned to w here she was still firm l y plant edon th e se at of the  Va lk. Sh e h a d remo ved he r hel me t a n d  wass t ar ing  u p at the h o u se,  an a pp rehe nsive l ook on her face. D a riu s tucked hisown  hel m e tund e rh isar m . " P r oblem?"

Her ey es snapped  t o  h is face. " W hywo uld the re be a  prob l em?"

H e archedan eyebro w.  "Yo u tel l me."

Ge orgia'slips disa p peare d  i nto a  th in lin e.  Wi thout  a wor d , s he di smount ed  and s tarte dtowardsthe stairs. She took th e step s two  at  a time.Dar i uswas close  onher heels.  He  cr owded  on t o the  lan d in g n e xt to  her ,  bent dow n  a nds p ok e into here a r . " You s til l  haven 't t old me about youa nd Helena."

H e co u l dn' t s e e he rface, but theglo ve d finger s he  jammed onthe door be l l sho ok sli ghtly.  "I don ' t  k n ow wha t yo u'r e talking  ab ou t ."

"B
berries.

She tasted_like blackberries.

He_released her too quickly._She weaved_a_little before_catching_herself. Darius started_to steady her_again, at the last_minute thought better_of_it. He retreated into the kitchen and retrieved the helmet from the counter.

"We'd better_get_going."

† †_†

The_address_on the paper took them_to a gently-sloping hill on_the outskirts_of The Mission. Packed with parked cars, the_street_exuded an air_of quiet domesticity. The sidewalks were lined with tall_trees and old Victorians, the crumbling_exteriors painted varying_shades_of_ochre, terra cotta, and_adobe-white.

Except for one.

The house that corresponded_to the address was a bright,_if shabby, teal; a slender, three-story Stick_Victorian with chipped white detailing and_a flat roof. Unlike the_other houses_on the street, which boasted_small, verdant front_gardens, it_sat flush against_the sidewalk. A narrow staircase zig-zagged_up to the_second-level front door.

Darius took his helmet_off_the instant Georgia_parked._With_vents all_around the neck,_the_inside had_stayed_surprisingly cool. Even so, he wasn't_used_to the vaguely claustrophobic experience of having_his entire head encased_in_plastic. He eased off_the back of Dolores, and_started towards the house.

It took him_a moment_to realize_Georgia wasn't following.

Darius turned to where she was still firmly planted_on the seat of the Valk._She had removed her_helmet and_was_staring up at_the_house, an_apprehensive look on her face. Darius tucked_his own_helmet under his arm. "Problem?"

Her eyes_snapped to his face._"Why_would there be a problem?"

He arched_an eyebrow. "You tell me."

Georgia's lips_disappeared into a thin line._Without_a_word, she dismounted and started_towards the stairs. She took the_steps two at_a time. Darius was close on her_heels._He crowded onto the landing next_to_her, bent down and spoke into_her_ear._"You still haven't told me_about you and Helena."

He couldn't see_her face, but the gloved finger she jammed on_the doorbell shook_slightly. "I don't know what_you're_talking_about."

"B