1 Anna stepped out of the Uber. Correction-she stumbled out of the Uber. She steadied herself in the parking lot, waiting for the world to stop tilting. The driver, relieved to have deposited his drunk passenger, drove off into the night, red taillights glowing. "Thanks, man," Anna said. The steps to her apartment rose ahead of her. One flight, but it might as well have been fifty. Why had she and Kayla signed a lease for a second-floor unit? The night sky was clear, a million stars like glowing dots.

No wind, but it was cold. Anna shivered, tugged her jean jacket tighter. Her body shook. Just go inside, into your warm bed. The world stopped spinning. Anna mouthed a silent prayer of thanks. She told herself she''d never drink tequila again. She amended the statement right away-she would never drink anything again.

She''d been partying too much, staying out too late. Failing out of school. Everything spiraling- She shook her head, stopped the out-of-control thoughts. Just get your ass inside. Anna started forward, stepping cautiously. Don''t rush, don''t fall. She dug in her purse, reaching for her keys. She knew Kayla would have locked the door.

Dependable, reliable Kayla. Asleep at eleven, homework finished. Dishes washed and put away. The next day''s clothes ready to go. Anna lived with her opposite. She loved Kayla dearly, but how had they become and stayed such good friends? Anna grabbed the keys. Score. She hated to have to ring the bell, get Kayla out of bed to let her in.

That had happened a few times. Missing keys, lost phone. Forgotten credit card. But not tonight-Anna had made it home, and she gripped the keys as her foot hit the bottom step. Something moved on her left. From the corner of her eye, she saw it. The breath caught in her throat. A figure coming from the direction of the building next door.

A dark blur. A neighbor? Another drunk student? It couldn''t be the Midnight Rambler, could it? The Midnight Rambler. The town pervert. A guy who''d been creeping around outside girls'' apartments, peeking in windows, watching girls sleep. But he hadn''t been spotted in their complex, and Anna thought he''d get caught soon or go away, some loser who didn''t know how to get laid on his own- Then the guy said something, called out a word in the dark. Did he really just say that? Her name? "Anna?" She froze, looked his way. His face remained obscured. He wore dark clothes, walked with his hands in his pants pockets.

What was the name of the guy next door? The one who had helped her get her car started the day she left her lights on? Was that him? Why was he slinking around outside the building at . It was after two. Anna had stayed out until last call, slamming back one more shot before summoning a ride. And did the dude next door even know her name? Maybe he''d said something else. Maybe he''d just said hello. Or maybe he''d said nothing, and Anna had just heard a branch scraping, or the tequila was causing auditory hallucinations. Her stomach turned when she thought of the number of shots she''d consumed. Why do I do this to myself? Inside.

She needed to get inside. Bathroom, Tylenol, water, bed- She started up the stairs, turning away from the shadowy figure. She dismissed him. He wasn''t the Rambler. Just another drunken student, one of her brethren in late-night debauchery. He needed to get into his apartment, sleep off his drunk while vowing never to do it again- "Anna?" Anna stopped again, halfway up. She looked back into the gloom. The man stood five feet back from the lowest step, his face still obscured.

How did he know her name? And if he knew her name-if he was a friend-why did he linger in the dark? Why not come right out and speak to her in the light? Anna started up the stairs again. She missed the next step. Her foot came down on nothing but air, and her knees pounded against the concrete. Her eyes watered with pain. "Shit. Fuck." She regained her footing, started up. Moving quickly, stepping carefully.

She didn''t look back. She drew the keys out, eyed the lock. She prayed Kayla-who worried more about the Rambler than Anna ever had-hadn''t put the chain up as well. Anna''s key hit the lock, and she tried to turn it. The lock stuck, as it sometimes did. "Shit. No." The guy behind her started up the steps, heavy shoes against the concrete.

Sweat popped out on Anna''s forehead. She jiggled the key, turned it again. Mercifully, it turned. Anna pushed, almost fell into the living room, then spun and slammed the door shut, shaking the walls. Her hands trembled as she turned the lock, grabbed the chain, and put it in place. Her heart jumped against her ribs like a bucking horse, and she collapsed against the door, holding herself up. Tears sprang to her eyes, and she wiped them away. She risked a look.

She pressed her eye to the peephole. With a fish-eye view, she saw the dude on the landing, hands still stuffed in his pockets. He looked down, his face still obscured. He didn''t reach for the knob, but Anna worried he might. Maybe he''d try to kick the door in. "Anna?" She jumped a foot, almost screamed. Anna turned around, saw Kayla behind her in the living room. Her roommate wore sweats and a Titans T-shirt.

Her eyes were puffy from sleep. "What''s going on?" she said. "I heard the door-" "Look outside. Look. It''s the Rambler-or it''s . I don''t know." Kayla came over, rubbing her upper arms. "I was dead asleep.

Are you okay?" "Look." Kayla pressed her face to the door, turned her head from one side to the other. "I don''t see anything." "Kayla, there was a dude. He was out there in the dark. He came toward me-and-and-I think he said my name." "Do you know him?" "No. I mean, I didn''t get a good look at his face.

Oh, God, Kayla. I think I''m going to be sick." She dropped her keys and purse on the floor, clutched her stomach. The tequila roiled like a stormy sea. "He scared the shit out of me." She had to wipe more tears away. "Anna, I''ve never seen you like this." Kayla covered the distance between them, reached out, and took Anna in her arms.

"My God, you''re shaking. Let''s call the police. Okay? Right now. That could be the Rambler. Or if he said your name-" "I don''t know. Maybe I imagined it. I don''t know." "Let''s call the police, okay?" "No, no.

I feel . I had too much to drink. I need to go to bed." "But, Anna, if you''re so scared ." "Just, just ." Anna moved back, out of Kayla''s arms. "I can''t involve the cops. My dad- It''s just too complicated.

" "Anna, are you sure? You look terrified." "I''m just going to go to bed. I need to sleep this off, okay? I''m sorry I woke you." "It''s not about that, Anna. It''s about you-" "I''m fine. Really." Anna started for the bathroom, but she looked back once, studied the door. She wanted to make sure-really sure-that the lock and chain were in place.

2 Morning light leaked through the blinds, assaulting Anna''s eyes. She pulled the pillow over her head, burrowed into the warm sheets. She willed the world away. Until the bedroom door swooshed open. Kayla. Always on time, always prepared. "Anna? Hey, Anna? Are your ready to talk about last night?" Anna spoke into the pillow. "Anna, I can''t hear you.

" Kayla yanked the blinds open. More light poured in-bright, stinging light. "Damn it, Kayla." "This is serious, okay?" Kayla came to the side of the bed, tugged at the comforter. "Someone may be stalking you. We need to call the police now." Anna pictured Kayla without seeing her. Hands on hips, frowning mouth.

Frustrated by her roommate. Eager to help and protect her. Light pouring over her shoulder, illuminating her rosy complexion, her bright eyes. Kayla was sickeningly healthy. And competent. "I''ve tried to get you to go back to class and stop this academic spiral, but we''ve moved past that now. This is much more serious. And dangerous.

" Anna remained still. She couldn''t outlast Kayla, who was too good a friend, too loyal. Too determined. Anna pushed the pillow down, squinted against the burning light. Her tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth, and a rhythmic pain beat time in her temple. "Oh, God . I think I''m dead." "There she is," Kayla said.

"Swing your legs onto the floor and then we''ll call the police. We can worry about class later." "You''re overreacting, Kayla." "I''m not." Kayla studied Anna for a moment, her eyes intense. "I heard from your parents too. We can deal with them after the police." She reached into her back pocket and brought out her phone.

She held the screen toward Anna, pushed it closer to her face. "See this?" "No, no." Anna shut her eyes. "I can''t read that. It''s too bright and hurts my head. Please, no." Kayla pulled the phone back. "That was a dangerous situation last night in the parking lot.

It could have ended up a lot worse." "Let''s just take a deep breath. We''re not sure it''s a stalker. And why are you bringing up my parents?" Kayla''s cheeks flushed. She shook her head, ponytail swin.