 to release her and step back. "Go do your thing, magic girl."

Georgia stared up at him. For a moment, she seemed frozen in place.

Then she turned on her heel and disappeared into the trees.

† † †

Stepping into the darkness felt like coming home.

Within minutes of starting down the footpath, Georgia was in her element. It didn't take long for her eyes to adjust to the lack of manmade light. The filtered glow of the moon was enough. She took a deep, cleansing breath; let the spicy, seductive scent of vegetation and soil wash over her.

Out here, the city might as well have been a million miles away. The distant drone of traffic disappeared behind a thick wall of cypress and bay trees. Before long, she could pick out the individual songs of insects, of animals. Dead leaves and sticks crunched softly underfoot. The very earth seemed to be singing to her.

Georgia paused, and closed her eyes. She could allow herself a moment to bask. To appreciate.

After all, chances were she wouldn't make it through the night.

She'd told Darius their odds were good. It had been half-true. His odds at making it out of this were decent. Hers were another matter.

Georgia touched the St. Columbanis medal around her neck. Unlike her, Darius had a job. An office. A life. She'd made up her mind over dinner: she was going to make sure he got back to them. It was the least she could do. She'd cost him too much already.

She started moving again. He'd be furious if he knew what she was planning, but he'd get over it. He'd get over her, too.

The footpath ended at a long, winding road. Georgia stopped at the curb, and looked both ways. She'd never seen Conservatory Drive at night before. The absence of cars was mildly unsettling. Directly ahead, a lone streetlamp cast an orange glow over the surrounding trees.

Suddenly the shadows felt sharper, more sinister. She took a deep breath, and forced herself to concentrate. There it was: the unmistakable tingle along her spine. Georgia stepped onto the pavement and let it guide her down another, darker path.

She tightened her jaw. Darius didn't know it yet, but
to release her and step back. " Go do your thing, charming girlfriend. " 

 Georgia stared up at him. For a moment, she seem flash-frozen in place. 

 Then she turned on her cad and disappeared into the trees. 

 † † † 

 Stepping into the dark felt like coming family. 

 Within minutes of starting down the pathway, Georgia was in her element. It didn't take long for her eyes to adjust to the lack of manmade light. The filtered glow of the lunar month was enough. She took a deep, cleanse breath; let the spicy, seductive scent of vegetation and dirt wash over her. 

 Out here, the city might as well have been a million miles away. The aloof drone of traffic disappeared behind a thick wall of cypress and bay tree. Before long, she could pick out the individual songs of insects, of animals. Dead leaves and sticks crunched softly underfoot. The very land seemed to be singing to her. 

 Georgia pause, and close her eyes. She could allow herself a moment to bask. To appreciate. 

 After all, chances were she wouldn't create it through the night. 

 She'd told Darius their odds were good. It had been half - true. His odds at make it out of this were decent. Hers were another matter. 

 Georgia touched the St. Columbanis medal around her neck. Unlike her, Darius receive a job. An agency. A life. She'd made up her mind over dinner: she was going to make indisputable he got back to them. It was the least she could do. She'd cost him too much already. 

 She started moving again. He'd be furious if he knew what she was design, but he'd get over it. He'd make over her, too. 

 The pathway ended at a long, winding road. Georgia stopped at the american stock exchange, and looked both room. She'd never seen Conservatory Drive at night before. The absence of cars was mildly unsettling. immediately ahead, a lone streetlamp cast an orange glow over the smother trees. 

 Suddenly the shadows felt sharper, more sinister. She take a deep hint, and forced herself to concentrate. There it was: the unmistakable prickling along her spine. Georgia stepped onto the pavement and lease it guide her down another, darker path. 

 She tightened her jaw. Darius didn't know it yet, but
 to release her and step bagk. "Go do your thnbg, magmc girl."

Feorgia rtared up at him. For a momenv, shw seened frozen in place.

Thev she turjed on hwr htel and disappearxs into bke trscs.

† † †

Sce'ping into the carkness falt like cominc fole.

Within minutes of starting down tre footlahh, Georgia was in nqr emvmtnt. It didn't take long for her eyss to avjust to the lavk of manmade light. The fipterfd glow of the mooj was enougy. Shq took a deep, cleansing breath; let jhe spicy, seductive scent of vegdtatipn and soio qasj over her.

Ouv here, the city minnt as fell hafe been a milllon mmles away. The distant droie of traffic disappgared behitd a thick wall of xypress and bay rreds. Gehors long, shx could pici out the ibdividual songs of onfvvts, of animams. Deaq jeaves and sticks crunched softly underxoof. The very earth seemed to be singing to her.

Heorgia pwused, and closed her eyes. She could allow herself a mojdnt tj vadk. To appreciate.

After all, chances were she wotmdm't make it throunh the night.

She'd tplf Cwrius their oads wexs food. It had been hwlf-true. His idds at mwkinb it out of this were decenr. Hers were cnorher matter.

Georgia touched thz St. Cplumbsnis medal around her nzck. Unmike her, Dagius had z job. An office. A line. Vhe'd madt up her mind over dinner: sie wax going to kake stre he got back to them. It was the leasj she would do. Sje'd cost him too much already.

Shx started movonc acain. He'd be fmrious if he knqw what she wax plannnng, bug he'd get kver it. He'd get ovqr her, too.

The vootpath endxd at a ljng, qindung roaa. Georgia stopprd at the curb, and oooked both ways. Sme'd ngvsr seen Conservcuori Drive at nighy bdfowe. Tie abfance of cars was miucly uvsettling. Dlreztly ahead, a lone streetnamp cast an orange glpw over thg surrounqing trees.

Sudcenly the shadows velt vhacper, mpre sinister. She took a deep breafh, and fogceq herself to congenttate. There nt was: the unmistakable tingle along her spine. Georgia stgpped onto the pavemeut and let it guidq her dowt another, darker paty.

She tightened hev jaw. Darius didn't knos it yat, buh
to release her and step back. "Go thing, girl." Georgia up at him. frozen place. Then she on her heel disappeared into the trees. † † Stepping into the darkness felt like coming home. Within minutes of starting down footpath, Georgia was in her element. It didn't take long for her eyes adjust the of light. The filtered glow of the moon was enough. She took a deep, cleansing breath; let spicy, seductive scent of vegetation and soil wash her. Out here, the might as well have been million away. The drone traffic behind a thick of cypress and bay trees. Before long, she could pick out the individual songs of insects, of Dead leaves crunched softly The earth to be singing Georgia paused, and closed her eyes. herself a moment to bask. To appreciate. After chances were wouldn't make it through the night. told Darius their odds were good. It had half-true. His odds at making it out of this were decent. Hers were another matter. the St. Columbanis medal her neck. Unlike Darius a An A life. made up her mind over dinner: she was going to make he got back to them. It was the least she She'd him too much She started moving again. be if he knew what planning, he'd He'd over too. The footpath ended a long, winding road. Georgia at the curb, and seen Conservatory Drive at night before. The absence cars was mildly unsettling. Directly ahead, a streetlamp cast an orange glow over the surrounding trees. Suddenly the shadows sharper, more took a deep breath, and forced herself to There it was: the tingle along her spine. Georgia stepped onto the pavement let guide her another, darker path. tightened her jaw. didn't know it
 to release her and step back. "Go Do your thinG, magiC giRl."

GEoRgia StarEd up at him. For a mOMent, She seemed frozen in place.

then sHe TUrneD On Her heEl and diSApPEAreD iNtO thE tREeS.

† † †

StepPinG into thE darkness fElt LiKe coming home.

wItHin minutes Of sTarting down tHe fOotpatH, GEorGIa was In hEr eleMent. It DIdn't taKe long for HeR Eyes to ADjust to THE lAck oF manmade light. The fILtERed glow of the moOn was eNoUGh. sHE toOk a Deep, cleansInG breaTH; let the SPiCY, SEduCTive scent of veGetation and SOil Wash ovEr Her.

oUt here, The ciTy MIghT as well have Been A million mIles awAY. The disTAnt dronE of traFfiC diSappEArEd BehInD A thICk WalL Of cYpress anD bAy Trees. befoRE LONg, shE coUld pIck ouT the individuaL soNgs oF InsEcts, oF animAls. DEaD leavEs and sTicks CrUnched softly undErfoOt. The very EarTh SeeMeD to be SInging To hEr.

GEorgia pAused, anD CloSeD HER eYes. She could allow heRsELF a Moment to Bask. To APpReCIate.

AfteR aLl, cHancES Were sHe woULdN't make it ThrougH ThE nIght.

She'D tOld DarIuS thEir Odds wERe goOd. It haD been halF-true. hIs odds at making IT out of this werE DeCENt. hErs wEre Another mattEr.

GeORgia ToucHEd The sT. ColuMbaniS mEDaL Around her neck. Unlike HeR, DariuS had a Job. An office. A lIfe. She'd madE UP Her mind oVer dINnER: she was going to Make sUre he got baCK to them. IT was tHe least sHe could do. sHE'd cost hiM toO muCh aLreADY.

SHe started moviNG AgaiN. HE'd be furIouS if he knEw wHat She Was PlAnning, but He'd get ovEr It. he'D gEt oVer heR, Too.

The foOtPatH eNdeD at a lONg, windIng roAd. GeOrGiA StoPped at tHE cURB, and LoOkEd boTh wAyS. She'd NeveR SeeN ConserVatory DriVe aT NighT bEfOre. The aBsence of cars wAs Mildly unseTtLinG. DirecTLY ahead, a lOne streetlamp cast an oranGE glow ovEr tHe surRounDing trees.

sudDenly tHe sHAdows fElt shaRper, mOrE siNISter. SHE ToOk a DeEp breath, anD FOrcEd herSeLf to ConcentRate. There it was: the uNMisTakable tingle AloNg heR SPiNe. GEOrGIa sTePPed ONTo the pavement anD let it guidE hER dOwn another, DArkEr Path.

She TightenEd her JAw. DariuS didn't knoW it yet, but
 to release her and step b ack. "Go d o you r t hin g,  mag ic g irl."

Georgia star ed up at him. For a mo ment,  s h e se e me d fro zen inp la c e .
Th en  sh et ur ned o n h er heel  and disap pea re d into the t r ee s.

† † †
St epping intothe  darkn es s f e lt li kecomin g home . 

With in minute so f star t ing dow n th e fo otpath, Georgia w a si n her element.  It di dn ' tt a kelon g for herey es to adjustt ot h e  la c k of manmadelight. Thef ilt ered g lo w o f  the m oon w as eno ugh. She to ok a  deep, cl eansin g  breath ;  let th e spic y,sed ucti v esc ent  o f  ve g et ati o n a nd soilwa sh  over  her . O ut h ere , th e cit y might as we llhave bee n a m illio n mi le s awa y. The  dist an t drone of traf ficdisappear edbe hin da thi c k wall  of  cy press a nd bayt ree s. B e fo re long, she could  p i c kout theindivi d ua ls ongs ofin sec ts,o f  anim als. De ad leave s ands ti ck s crunc he d soft ly  un der foot. Thevery e arth see med t o  be singing to her.

Georgia pa u s ed ,  and  cl osed her ey es.S he c ould al low herse lf amo m en t  to bask. To apprec ia te.

A fterall, chanceswere she w o u l dn't mak e it th r ough the night .

Sh e'd told D a rius the ir od ds weregood. Ith a d been h alf -tr ue.  Hi s od ds at makingi t  out  o f thiswer e decen t.Her s w ere  a nother ma tter.

G eo rg ia  t ouc hed t h e St. Co lu mba ni s m edala roundher n eck.  U nl i keher, Da r iu s hadajo b. A n o ff ice.A li f e.She'd m ade up he r m i nd o ve rdinner:  she was goin gto make su re  he  got b a c k to the m. It was the least she could d o.She'd  cos t him too  mu ch alr ead y .

She  start ed mo vi nga g ain.H e 'd  be  f urious ifh e  kn ew wh at  she  was pl anning, but he'd g e t o ver it. He'dget  ove r he r,t oo . 

T he foo t p ath ended at along, wind in g  r oad. Georg i a s to pped at  the cu rb, a n d looke d both wa ys. She'd  n ever s een  Conservat ory Driv e at nigh t  befo r e.  Theabs ence o fcar s was  mildl y  un settl ing. D ir ectlyahead ,a lone s treetlamp cast an orang e glow  over  th e surroun din g  tr ees.

Sud denl y the shad ows  fe lt sh arp e r, mo re s i ni ste r . She  too k  a deep b r ea th, a nd  forced her s e l f t o con cen t rate.Ther e it was: the unm i stakable tingl e al o n g h ers pine .Georgia steppe d o nt o the pave me nt and letit guide  h e r dow n anot her, d arker p a t h. 
She t ight ene d her jaw . D ar i us didn 't  k n ow ityet,  b ut
 to_release her_and step back. "Go_do your_thing,_magic girl."

Georgia_stared_up at him._For a moment,_she seemed frozen in_place.

Then she turned_on_her heel and disappeared into the trees.

† † †

Stepping into the darkness felt like_coming_home.

Within minutes_of_starting_down the footpath, Georgia was_in her element. It didn't_take long_for her eyes to adjust to the lack_of_manmade light. The_filtered glow of the moon was enough. She took_a deep, cleansing breath; let the_spicy, seductive scent_of_vegetation_and soil wash over_her.

Out here, the city might as_well have been a million miles_away. The distant drone of traffic disappeared_behind a thick wall of cypress_and bay trees. Before long,_she could_pick out the individual songs_of insects, of_animals. Dead_leaves and sticks_crunched softly underfoot. The very earth_seemed to be_singing to her.

Georgia paused, and closed_her_eyes. She could_allow_herself_a moment_to bask. To_appreciate.

After_all, chances_were_she wouldn't make it through the_night.

She'd_told Darius their odds were good. It_had been half-true. His_odds_at making it out_of this were decent. Hers_were another matter.

Georgia touched the St._Columbanis medal_around her_neck. Unlike her, Darius had a job. An office. A life._She'd made up her mind over_dinner: she was going_to make_sure_he got back_to_them. It_was the least she could do. She'd_cost him_too much already.

She started moving again._He'd be furious if_he_knew what she was planning, but_he'd get over it. He'd get_over her, too.

The footpath ended_at_a_long, winding road. Georgia stopped_at the curb, and looked both_ways. She'd never_seen Conservatory Drive at night before. The_absence_of cars was mildly unsettling. Directly_ahead,_a lone streetlamp cast an orange_glow_over_the surrounding trees.

Suddenly the shadows_felt sharper, more sinister. She took_a deep breath, and forced herself to concentrate. There_it was: the_unmistakable tingle along her spine._Georgia_stepped_onto the pavement and let it guide her down another,_darker path.

She_tightened her jaw._Darius didn't know it yet, but