Raindrops pattered against the pavement in a humid melody could be irritating to someone who had been waiting outside for hours. To someone like Ellie.

The afternoon was cloudy in that Wyoming town that had welcomed the brunette a few weeks ago, the freezing weather and the rain soaked her bones, she hated it. Leaning over the balcony railing, watching the sky dissolve into a bitter drizzle, she heard the apartment door open from the hallway.

The teenager made no effort to move when she heard the approaching footsteps or hide the cigarette hanging from her lips, on the contrary, she took a firm drag on the cigar and held it in her lungs until she felt the alien presence behind her. Only then did she allow herself to exhale.

“You’re late, you said you’d be back at 5.” Her voice sounded hoarse even to herself. She just looked over her shoulder at the recipient of her bitterness. “Liar.”