When You Were Young

He holds up a diamond ring. Samantha can't speak. Tears come to her eyes, but she makes no attempt to stop them. "I can get down on my knees if you want," he says.

"Oh my God," she says at last. "Of course. Yes, yes, yes-" she continues saying this one word in her mind even as they kiss. She holds up her finger to the moonlight, the diamond sparkling blue-

Samantha's eyes shot open at the sound of a door creaking. Samantha looked through the field glasses, seeing a car parked down the road. She's here! She's already inside the house!

Samantha threw the netting off and left the rifle on the ground. She raced towards the house with her pistol drawn, praying she wasn't too late. She stomped up the front steps, forgetting about subtlety now. She burst through the door and started down the hallway, to the stairs.

As she passed by a doorway, something heavy slammed into her. The pistol flew from her hand, skittering back over to the door. A fist hit her in the side of the head, knocking her sideways. She rolled over to look up at Veronica.

"I didn't think you'd make it," Veronica said. "I thought maybe you'd killed too many brain cells to figure it out."

"Sorry to disappoint you," Samantha said. She kicked Veronica between the legs, sending her tumbling back. Samantha got to her feet and with another kick spun Veronica into the kitchen. Samantha charged in after her, but Veronica slid a chair in her path.

Samantha crashed to the floor. Before she could turn over, Veronica leapt on her with a growl and took her by the hair, slamming her head against the linoleum. Spots of light burst in front of her eyes, but she managed to reach back and elbow Veronica in the ribs. Veronica slid off her, allowing Samantha to flip over and climb on top. She pinned Veronica's arms to the floor with her knees.

"It's over," Samantha said. "You're coming with me. We'll get you some help. I know things were bad-"

"You don't know anything!" Veronica shouted. She head-butted Samantha in the chest. Samantha banged her head against the edge of the table. She saw three Veronicas charging at her; she reached out for the middle one with her legs. She flipped Veronica over her and into the wall.

As Samantha got to her feet, a light came on. "Who's down here? I've called the police," a woman said. She came to the doorway, a chubby woman with brown hair, wearing a pink bathrobe. She carried a child's baseball bat in one hand.