?It was late when Macy got home. She got a kick out of Sarah, even though she was pretty sure the girl wouldn't live to see adulthood.

  ?The house was empty. Her brothers worked late and her dad was on a mission. It wasn't uncommon. Her family loved her, but she was like an alien among them. An update on her phone told her money had been put in her account for takeout. Of course, she would make a sandwich if she got hungry and save the money for McDonald's.

  ?To her delight, she looked at her phone to see Cindi had texted her!

  ?I'm home!

  ?Macy felt flooded with relief. She had great friends. Kim was great, but definitely not a talker. Adam... well, Adam followed her like a sick puppy, too busy trying to win her over without admitting it to her, and probably not even to himself. And Sarah was new, and clearly insane.

  ?Where in this wretched city are you!? She texted back. And waited.

  ?She made something that could pass for dinner. She watched a bit of TV. Texted with Adam when he got out of D&D—the only thing he ever chose over her—until she finally gave in and texted Cindi again.

  ????

  ?As if on cue there was a knock on her door. Macy lived in army housing on a base. She wasn't too worried about being home alone, or answering the door.

  ?When she opened it, her heart leaped into her throat. It was Cindi.

  ?"Oh my goodness!" she squealed, much to the discomfort of her more reserved friend. She enveloped her in a hug she didn't want to end. "Why didn't you tell me you were coming back!"

  ?"I wanted it to be a surprise," she said with a smile. "How is the homework?"

  ?"Wow, so homework sucks! But that is so not the most important thing to talk about!" She said as she went back to her kitchen to work on her sandwich.

  ?"You're failing math, you know."

  ?"Meh..." She waved her hand dismissively. "There’s lots of year left."

  ?Cindi just laughed.

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  ?"So what did you do? Did you see Mecca or something?"

  ?Cindi raised her eyebrows in offense that was only partially playful.

  ?"That is Saudi Arabia, and Muslim. I am Hindu, and I was in India." Macy smiled and Cindi slapped her playfully. "Oh, you knew that!"

  ?Both friends laughed.

  ?"How is Kim doing with all her head stuff?"

  ?"I mean, she's getting better. It takes a while. Love hanging out with her. But she's not much of a talker," Macy complained. "You have to meet Sarah! She's the most awesome little psychopath from Kim's camp! I saw her eat a raw chicken!"

  ?Macy didn't know how to bring up the Wendigo. But there was time for that. She grabbed her sandwich and they went to her room.

  ?"So what was India like? I mean, have you ever been before?"

  ?"When I was little." Macy was lying back at the top of her bed. Cindi was lying across the base. "I mean, it wasn't the same. But it's different when you go and you're older."

  ?Cindi began to talk about the sights and sounds of India. "And we have to try Indian food sometime!" She insisted.

  ?"Only if it's made with real Indians!" she joked. Cindi caught the joke and laughed.

  ?"Funny. My dad made a similar joke in the car ride. Just before he ate me."

  ?"Ate you?" Macy was struggling to see the humor. Until Cindi smiled at her.

  ?All her teeth were fangs.

  ?Macy jumped from the bed to her nearby closet. She had never been more thankful for cramped army housing than she was at this moment.

  ?The thing with Cindi's face took its time getting off the bed. "You really are a delightful person," it said. "Cindi thought really highly of you. I should know. I ate her brain."

  ?Macy grabbed the Glock 9 from her closet. Her dad and her brothers had taught her to shoot young. And they insisted she keep a gun in her room.

  ?"Come on. Do you think a bullet will stop me?" It asked.

  ?"I'm willing to bet fifteen might!" she said as she aimed the gun and unloaded every bullet she had into the beast.

  ?The impact sent it flying into the wall.

  ?Macy bolted from the room. She had been taught and trained for situations where an enemy had entered the house. If she lived, she promised herself she would never complain about being a military brat again.

  ?She made her way to the living room and kicked the rug out of the way. The shambling horror that was wearing her friend Cindi started to heal as it came down the hall towards her. Its face still had that sick, fanged smile as bullets started to fall out from the wounds.

  ?When she pulled the AR-15 from the floor safe, the creature's smile wavered.

  ?The kick from the gun felt like it was tearing her shoulder out. But she'd been shooting since she was old enough to hold a gun. And shoulders heal.

  ?"You think I'm some kind of damsel in distress, you piece of shit?!" she screamed as she reloaded. "I'm 100% made in the USA military brat!"

  ?The creature wasn't even discernible as Cindi anymore as Macy unloaded the next magazine.

  ?A growl of frustration rose up from the mess on the floor. Macy reloaded again.

  ?By the time she snapped the clip in, what looked like a hairless gorilla with fangs had risen up, covered in blood. Macy stood there, her face ice cold. Looking like Rambo Barbie.

  ?It roared at her and jumped through her closed window.

  ?Macy ran to the shattered glass and watched it fade over the horizon. When she was certain it was gone, she fell to the ground and wept uncontrollably.