Instead, Rachel heard only silence. She stared up at the full moon and sighed.
Mei better not throw up on her new red dress, she thought.
Rachel turned toward the alley just in time to be knocked down by a dark mass. There was a loud screeching squeak and a sharp pain as she felt something nip at her leg before it bounded off.
Rachel crawled against the side of the building and panted for her breath. The unexpected assault of ... whatever that was ... had scared the hell out of her and it took a moment before she remembered her ill friend.
Rachel jumped to her feet, wincing as she stood. There was a puncture mark on her thigh. She ignored the pain and peered into the alley.