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Riley stood stiff as a board when the creature approached her, eyes widening in horror. Her breathing stopped and her heart pounded so hard she could feel it in her chest. She wanted to move, but every one of her muscles felt as though it was weighed down by a sack of bricks. She flinched and braced for an impact, but the one she received was very different than the one she was expecting.
She was expecting whatever creature was barreling towards her to slam into her, instead she felt a sharp tug on her arm and her legs naturally followed whoever was pulling on her arm. She blindy trailing whoever was pulling her to safety.
“Riley what were you doing?”
Riley blinked, and turned as her brain registered that it was Felix speaking. “Felix, when did you get here?”
“Just a minute ago. Didn’t you know I always show up right in the nick of time?” Felix joked, but his smile didn’t quite reach his eyes which were stained with worry.
“Well, I’m glad you did. I imagine I would have found myself in quite an uncomfortable experience if you hadn’t.”
“But seriously, what happened? You were just standing there like it was hypnotizing you which I don’t think these things can do.”
“Oh that wasn’t them that was stupid human adrenaline response. Before we finish this, can we leave the dark creepy forest?”
“I think I can handle that,” Felix said with a wink that made Riley relax.
When they returned to the warehouse they were met by the rest of Unit Bravo. Adam’s frown lessened slightly when they came in and he nodded at Riley after giving her a quick look over to see if she was alright. Nat didn’t bother hiding the concern on her face as she looked over them, and Cat ran forward to embrace her sister.
“Why didn’t you try to run? You could have died!” Cat scolded, but judging by the wetness that had seeped into the shoulder of Riley’s shirt it was more out of fear than anger.
“Forget running, why didn’t the rest of you just kill the thing?” Lukas questions, crossing his arms over his chest still a bit perturbed at not being allowed to shoot it.
“What actually did happen?” Nat asked Riley, placing a hand on Lukas’s shoulder in an attempt to calm him down.
“It turns out that when it comes to fight or flight, I’m incredibly prone to door number three: freeze.”
Lukas uncrossed his arms and shook his head. “It’s why we don’t let her go in the field much.”
“You should have warned me before I sent her out alone,” Adam scolded.
“If you would have consulted me beforehand I could have,” Lukas retorted, glaring at Adam.
“I do not answer to you Detective.”
Lukas stepped forward to say something else when Nat cut him off, stepping between him and Adam, and moving her hand from Lukas’s shoulder to his chest. “Let’s not do this now. What’s important is that Riley is okay.”
“I am okay,” Riley confirmed. “But if it makes you feel better, I’ll stay here tonight, so you can decide for yourselves.”