CHAPTER16 “What did you see?” he asked.   Not answering his question, Miah looked beyond the slide to see the weather as clear as it would ever be. The fog was still thick, but it wasn't being cut through by rain like in her vision. Slightly adjusting Suho away, she crawled out of the confined space under the slide. Once they were both standing comfortably, she turned to tell him what she saw, but what she saw behind him had her words caught in .   “Miah? What’s wrong?” he asked confused at her behavior.   She wanted to answer him. She wanted to lift her hand and point at what she saw. She wanted to warn him.   But she couldn’t.   She couldn’t do anything but rush past him, after the thing she had seen. After the woman she had seen.   The thing that had Miah speechless was a woman in black. She wore a drab dress with a lace veil that obscured her face. She looked like the angel of death.   So of course, the only thing that came to mind…was to follow her.   She was running too. From what Miah wasn't sure. She knew it wasn’t Suho and her; they weren't threatening in anyway. She had begun to run before they had even tried to pursue her, and not once did the woman look back. It seemed like she hadn’t even realized Miah were following her.   Suddenly a loud thud and cursing sounded behind Miah. She turned to find Suho kneeling on the ground; one hand rubbing his left knee. Rushing over she bent down to ask what happened.   “You were running so fast. I tried to keep up, but I kept falling behind and then this stupid rock came out of nowhere and tripped me!” he kicked at a rock near his foot.   She gave him an apologetic look. She hadn't meant to leave him behind, she was just so focused on following the woman that she all but forget he was with her.    “You shouldn’t be here,” someone said from behind her.   Swiveling around, Miah discovered the woman in black towering over them. Suho in his breath sharply, causing her to eye him from her peripheral. He seemed just as surprised as she was to see the woman.   “You shouldn’t be out here,” she repeated.   Swallowing in attempt to moisten her now dry throat, Miah shakily gained the courage to ask, “Why is that?”   Even though the veil covered her face, they could almost see a tilt to her lips. “Because it is getting late. Can you not tell?”   Miah looked up at the hidden sky. It looks the same as this morning. Glancing back at the woman, she saw the woman bent down to their knelt height on the floor. They automatically leaned back, Miah's head bumping into Suho’s. “Aish!” they both yelped.   Rubbing the back of my head, I look at him with an apologetic expression. He just gives me a lopsided grin.   “The darkness will be here soon. You should get off the street,” the woman interrupted their exchange.   Staring toward her, Miah asks, “Is that why you were running?”   “What?”   “Before. I saw you running. Were you trying to get to a hiding place?”   A small chuckle bubbled out of the woman. It was high and bright. It would have sounded cute on someone else, but under all those black layers it sounded maniacal. “So you were watching me my dear? To answer your question, no. I was not looking for a hideout. I have no reason to fear the darkness.”   She wasn’t frightened by it? “Then why were you running,” Suho asked.   She shifted lightly, then spoke in a melodic tone, “I was running after my daughter.”   “Daughter?” they asked in shock.   “Yes. It’s not often I get to see her, so when I catch a glimpse I can’t help but run after her.”   “You mean, your daughter is running around in this place alone?” Miah questioned stunned.   “Don’t sound so judgmental. She fears the darkness even less than I do,” she all but growls.   Holding her hands up in surrender Miah asks, “Would you like us to help you search for her?”   The woman was quite for a moment, then said, “Possibly. Now why don’t the two of you follow me. You don’t want to be caught out in the open after dark.” Without another word she turned and walked away.   Suho and Miah looked at each other then stood and helplessly followed the gloomy women.       “Please, have a seat,” she pointed toward an old floral couch. Apparently she lived in a small apartment building not too far from where she found them.   Obliging her, the two took a seat, looking around the apartment as they did. It was small with maybe two rooms. The kitchen and living area were practically the same thing. Only a door in the corner indicated that this couch may not be the place the woman slept.   After few moments of uncomfortable silence she came over with a tray holding three cups, a tea kettle, and a little red box.   “Tea?” she asked politely. They both nodded so she set the cups before them, taking the time to place a leaf in each and pouring water over it. Doing the same for her cup, she sat down and waved her hand as an indication that they could drink so they did, eyeing her the whole time. Slowly she reached for her cup, and raised her veil only enough to touch the tea to her lips.   Silence filled the room again. The only noise coming from the occasional slurping sounds  made when taking a sip of the tea.   “Ahh that was de