The museum was darker than Daniel expected.

  Emergency exit signs cast green lights down empty hallways, painting the walls in pale stripes. Their footsteps echoed on polished marble, too loud, every step announcing exactly where they were.

  The exhibits were different at night. Display cases became dark mirrors reflecting their movement. Statues watched with hollow eyes. Ancient scrolls hung in their frames like pale ghosts. Somewhere deeper in the building, the air conditioning hummed a low note that made the silence feel heavier.

  A security camera blinked red in the corner. Daniel ducked under it, pulling Henry with him.

  "This feels like a horror movie," Henry whispered.

  "Then stop following me."

  "You think I want to be here alone?"

  They moved deeper into the building, following the sound. Past the main galleries with their silk screens and ceramic warriors. Past the gift shop with its racks of postcards and replica jade pendants. Toward the east wing.

  The smell changed as they got closer. Old preservation chemicals giving way to something else: sweat, leather, the faint metallic tang of something Daniel couldn't identify.

  The doors to the Chinese collection were propped open. Voices inside, low and controlled, speaking Cantonese.

  Daniel pressed himself against the wall. Peered around the doorframe.

  Five people, all dressed in dark clothing, all wearing animal masks.

  Two of them were carefully removing scrolls from a display case, handling them with the care of people who knew exactly what they were taking. Another was photographing artifact labels with a small camera, the flash clicking softly in the darkness. Two more stood watch near different exits, scanning the gallery with the alertness of trained guards.

  And supervising them all, standing near the main display case at the center of the room...

  A fox mask. White with red accents. Painted eyes staring straight ahead.

  Daniel's body remembered before his brain caught up. Muscles tensing, heart rate spiking, the phantom ache in his shoulder where she'd struck him.

  It was her. The one who'd put him in the hospital.

  Behind him, Henry shifted his weight.

  A floorboard creaked.

  Everyone in the gallery froze.

  Turned.

  Five pairs of eyes. Plus the blank stare of the fox mask.

  All looking directly at them.

  Daniel's heartbeat hammered against his ribs, but he forced his face neutral. They didn't know anything yet. Just two confused teenagers who got lost. Act normal. Apologize. Leave.

  Don't look at the scrolls they're stealing. Don't look at the camera.

  One of them, thick-built guy with a crew cut, cursed under his breath. "I thought Yang was watching the door?"

  Another one, younger, looked annoyed. "Yang's injured. Couldn't make it tonight."

  "Shit. So no one was..." The first one started toward Daniel and Henry. Heavy footsteps. Purpose in his stride.

  The fox-masked figure raised one hand. A sharp gesture. Stop.

  He froze mid-step.

  The masked figure tilted her head. Studying them. The painted eyes of the mask caught the emergency lighting and seemed to glow.

  Daniel could feel her focus like a physical weight. He put on his best apologetic smile. Raised his hands slightly. Non-threatening.

  "Oh. Uh. Sorry for interrupting." He gestured vaguely behind him. "We just... we got lost looking for the bathroom. You guys must be the... museum caretakers? Night shift maintenance?"

  Henry's head snapped toward him. "What?"

  Daniel didn't look at Henry. Kept his eyes on the masked figure.

  "Yeah. Night maintenance. Makes sense they'd work when the museum's closed. Sorry to bother you guys." He grabbed Henry's arm. Firm grip. "We should go. Come on, Henry."

  "But they're wearing masks and stealing..."

  "Museum workers. Doing their jobs. We're trespassing." Daniel started backing toward the door, pulling Henry with him. "Really sorry about this. We'll just..."

  "Wait."

  The word cut through the gallery like a blade.

  The masked figure's voice was flat. Controlled. Female. Younger than he'd expected.

  Daniel and Henry both froze.

  The air conditioning hummed. Somewhere, water dripped.

  The masked figure pointed to something on the floor near them. "You forgot your jacket."

  Daniel frowned. What jacket? He wasn't wearing a...

  Oldest trick in the book. Made you look.

  She moved. Fast.

  Her hand came at his shoulder. The same point she'd struck before. Going for the meridian.

  Daniel jerked back on pure instinct. Days of replaying that fight in his head. Remembering how she moved.

  Her fingers missed by inches.

  She redirected instantly. Second blow toward Henry.

  Daniel grabbed Henry's collar, yanked him backward. They both tumbled, rolled, came up in defensive stances. Or what passed for defensive stances. Henry just looked terrified.

  Too close, way too close.

  Henry lay slightly stunned on the ground next to him, breathing hard.

  Then something clicked. Her voice. The way she'd almost made that feint playful. The teenage energy underneath the professional mask.

  "Li Mei?"

  The masked figure went completely still.

  The entire gallery seemed to hold its breath. The other thieves exchanged glances behind their masks. Uncertain.

  Behind the fox mask, nothing showed. But her body language changed. Shoulders dropping slightly, less tense than a moment ago, as if giving a deep sigh.

  "Just as expected," she said. Flat. Matter-of-fact. "It's you."

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  She didn't elaborate.

  Behind him, Henry's voice cracked: "What's happening?!"

  One of the crew cleared his throat. "Boss, we should..."

  "Take the fat one," Li Mei said without looking at him. "I'll handle this."

  Henry backed up. "Aye, what the fuck. Why am I the fat one?"

  One of the masked figures started toward Henry. Big guy. Moving fast.

  Henry turned and ran. Smart choice.

  Daniel started backing up, his mind racing through possibilities. This was too soon. Way too soon. Like playing a video game, finishing the tutorial, and walking straight into the final boss fight. The same boss that had already killed you once.

  Li Mei moved.

  No time to think. Daniel readied himself, stayed light on his toes. Dian Xue only worked if it hit you. Rule one of pressure points: don't be where the strike lands. This time would be different. This time he knew what to watch for.

  Then Li Mei's hand went to her back and drew an entire Chinese longsword from beneath her cloak.

  The jian gleamed, straight blade, double-edged. Sharp enough that Daniel could see the light split along its edge.

  His mind went blank.

  What the heck…bosses can get upgrades too?

  "You... got a sword," said Daniel, backing up. "What the fuck. That isn't fair."

  "Life isn't fair," replied Li Mei, tilting her head as if it were the most normal thing in the world.

  Ah…yeah. This was real life. Why would criminals go easy on you?

  "Good point..."

  She moved.

  The sword came at his head, fast, no hesitation.

  Daniel threw himself backward. Grabbed the nearest thing. A museum information stand, heavy wood and metal.

  The blade sliced through it like paper. Split it clean in two. The halves clattered to the floor on either side of him.

  "Shit."

  He scrambled away. Knocked over a display stand. Pottery shattered across the marble. He barely noticed.

  Mind racing.

  Sword. She has a sword. I don't have anything. I need something.

  Henry's voice from across the gallery: "DANIEL?! Help?!"

  "Can't you see I'm getting attacked? Fuck, help yourself!"

  He ducked another swing. The blade passed close enough that he felt the air move. Close enough to part his hair.

  "Shit!"

  Another swing. He threw himself sideways. Crashed into a pillar. The impact rattled his teeth.

  His eyes darted around the gallery. Li Mei was advancing calmly. She knew he had nowhere to go. Every exit blocked by her crew or too far to reach.

  Think, what do I have. What can I use.

  A decorative scroll weight sat on a nearby pedestal. Daniel grabbed it. Threw it at her head.

  She cut it in half mid-air. The two pieces clattered past her on either side.

  Okay, that doesn't work.

  The janitor's cart near the wall. He'd passed it coming in.

  Daniel sprinted for it. Grabbed the mop. Swung it at her like a staff, putting his whole body into the strike.

  The sword rose.

  Kissed the wood.

  The mop head flew one direction. The handle clattered the other. Daniel stood holding eighteen inches of splintered stick.

  "Are you serious?!" He threw the useless handle at her. She didn't bother deflecting. Just let it sail past. "How is it that sharp?!"

  His eyes found the janitor's bucket, still full of gray water that smelled like pine cleaner.

  No time to think. Daniel grabbed the handle. Swung.

  The bucket flew, way over her head, not even close.

  Li Mei sidestepped anyway. Casual. The water arced through the air, caught the light, splashed across the marble floor.

  But a few drops hit her sleeve. Dark spots spreading on the fabric.

  She froze.

  Just for a second.

  Her free hand twitched toward the wet fabric. Like she wanted to wipe it off but caught herself mid-motion. A tell. A crack in the professional mask.

  Then it was gone. Composure back in place. Sword rising again.

  But Daniel had seen it.

  Wait. Why did she react like that? It was just water.

  His brain tried to make sense of it. She moved like a ghost. Silent. Fast. Unnatural. Did she have the same weakness as one? Holy water? But there was nothing holy about a janitor's bucket.

  Li Mei advanced again. Sword ready. But she was watching his hands now. Watching for anything else he'd throw her.

  Daniel backed up. Running out of space, running out of options.

  His hand hit something. A pedestal.

  He looked.

  A jade statue. Green and white, carved in intricate detail. A Taoist immortal riding a qilin, the mythical creature's scales rendered in perfect miniature. The placard read: Daoist Immortal Lu Dongbin, Tang Dynasty.

  Priceless. Literally priceless. On loan from the Chinese government.

  Daniel grabbed it.

  Li Mei surged forward, sword raised.

  Daniel held the jade statue up between them.

  Her sword stopped mid-swing. Hovering inches from the artifact.

  She adjusted her angle. Came at him from the side.

  He moved the statue in the way.

  She pulled back. Tried from below.

  He blocked with it again.

  Daniel kept backing up, holding the statue between them like a shield. She kept trying to find an opening around it. He kept moving it in the way. A ridiculous dance. Priceless Tang Dynasty jade versus a teenage swordswoman.

  "Put it down," Li Mei said.

  "No?"

  "That's a twelve-hundred-year-old..."

  "I know what it is."

  "...irreplaceable cultural..."

  "Still not putting it down."

  They circled each other. Daniel's arms were starting to ache from holding the statue up. The thing was heavier than it looked. But he didn't dare lower it.

  "You can't hold that forever," Li Mei said.

  "Watch me."

  Across the gallery, Henry was still running. One of the masked figures chasing him hard. Knocking over display stands. Sending artifacts crashing to the floor.

  Henry rounded a corner too fast. Crashed into a display stand.

  It toppled.

  Hit a wall panel.

  Something inside the wall clicked.

  The fire alarm screamed to life.

  And then the sprinklers activated.

  Water everywhere, pouring down from the ceiling in cold sheets.

  Within seconds, everyone was soaked.

  Daniel stood there, blinking water out of his eyes. Still holding the jade statue. His clothes plastered to his skin. Water running down his face.

  Li Mei had gone completely still.

  Water streaming down her mask. Running in rivulets over the painted fox face, pooling in the eye sockets before spilling over. Her clothes soaked through, clinging. The sword still raised but forgotten. Water dripping from the blade in a steady stream.

  The alarm screamed. The sprinklers hissed.

  Just the two of them, soaked, staring.

  Then a thought came to Daniel's mind. Stupid. Childish. Something from the playground, from being kid and believing that words had power if you said them right.

  He didn't think about it. Just did it.

  He shook his wet hand. Flicked water at her face.

  "In the name of the Father!"

  Droplets hit the fox mask.

  "The power of Christ compels you!"

  He made a cross shape with his fingers. Held it toward her.

  "Begone, demon!"

  Li Mei stared at him.

  Silence stretched.

  A sigh. Barely audible over the alarm.

  "...We're leaving."

  What.

  That worked?

  She gestured to her crew. Sharp motion. They grabbed their bags. Waterproof, he noticed. They'd planned for something, though probably not this. Moving fast. Professional even in retreat.

  Li Mei backed toward the exit. Sword still raised. Water dripping from the blade. Her mask tilted toward Daniel in what might have been... was that annoyance? Grudging respect?

  Hard to tell.

  Then they were gone. Through the side exit. Footsteps fading into the night.

  Daniel stood there. Breathing hard. Completely soaked. Still holding a priceless jade statue.

  Henry sprinted over, water streaming from his hair. "WE GOTTA GO!"

  "Yeah."

  They ran. Different exit. Side door to the loading area.

  Daniel paused just long enough to set the statue on a dry shelf. Seemed wrong to steal it after using it as a shield.

  Then they burst out into the night.

  The cold hit Daniel's wet clothes like a wall. His breath fogged in the air. Goosebumps rising on every inch of skin.

  Sirens, getting closer.

  Red and blue lights turning the corner. Two blocks away. Maybe less.

  "Police!" someone shouted.

  Daniel and Henry grabbed their boards from where they'd stashed them by the side entrance.

  "STOP! Police!"

  They pushed off. Hard.

  Down the alley. Wheels loud on wet concrete. The walls blurring past on either side. Graffiti and fire escapes and the smell of garbage.

  Left turn. Sharp. Henry almost wiped out on the wet pavement but caught himself at the last second.

  The cop car couldn't follow. Too narrow. They heard brakes screech behind them. Doors slamming. Shouted orders.

  But footsteps now. Running. Officers on foot, their boots slapping against the concrete.

  "Stop!"

  Daniel and Henry carved right. Through a parking lot full of delivery trucks. Between two buildings so close together their shoulders nearly scraped the walls. The skateboards were faster on pavement. The cops were in heavy boots, wearing vests, getting slower with every block.

  Another turn. Down a hill. They picked up speed. Wind cutting through their wet clothes like knives. Teeth chattering so hard Daniel could barely think.

  Past a restaurant kitchen pouring steam and the smell of frying oil into the alley. Past dumpsters reeking of fish. An old man with a tiny dog stared as they flew by.

  They cut through behind a row of shops. A cat yowled and scattered. The wheels of their boards rattled over uneven concrete, sending vibrations up through their legs.

  The footsteps faded behind them.

  They kept going. Three more blocks. Four. Five.

  Finally stopped in an alley between a shuttered grocery and a laundromat that was still open, warm light spilling from its windows. Both of them gasping for breath. Shaking from cold and adrenaline.

  They'd lost them.

  Henry bent over, hands on his knees. Water still dripping everywhere. Making a puddle on the concrete beneath him.

  "That was... too close..."

  "Yeah."

  Daniel's hands were still shaking. His whole body was shaking. Soaking wet and freezing, but alive.

  They'd made it out.

  "What the hell was that?" Henry straightened up. His voice cracking. "She had a sword. An actual sword. And she knew you. How did she know you?"

  "Long story."

  "We almost died!"

  "Yeah."

  "And you splashed holy water on her and she left! What is she some kind of demon?"

  "It wasn't holy water. It was just... sprinkler water."

  Henry stared at him. Water still dripping from his hair. His whole body shaking. "Then why did she leave?"

  Daniel didn't have an answer for that. What kind of person reacted to water like that? Was that a thing? A water phobia of some kind? Or perhaps he was just overthinking it and it was something simpler than that. She just didn't like to get dirty... Like a regular girl?

  The laundromat's dryer hummed through the wall. Warm air drifting out through the vents. They stood there for a moment, catching their breath, letting the heat seep into their frozen clothes.

  Henry was quiet for a moment. Then: "We should go. Before the cops start checking around here."

  "Yeah. Let's get out of here."

  They pushed off again. Slower this time. Just two kids skating home on a Thursday night.

  Nobody looking twice.