The air in the dog training facility hung heavy with the scent of wet dog and disinfectant, a familiar comfort to Sophie. It was 8:03 p.m., just past closing, and the dim streetlights outside cast long, eerie shadows through the windows. She had finished her rounds with the board and train dogs, ensuring their nightly needs were met.

Heading for the exit, she cursed under her breath as her foot hit a slick spot, sending her skidding. She landed with a thump on her rear, grimacing at the puddle of dog piss she now sat in. Irritated, she scrambled behind the counter, fumbling in the dark for paper towels under the cabinets.

Suddenly, the bells above the door chimed, signaling an entry. “Hello?” she called out, straightening up. No one. A cold dread seeped into her bones. She swore under her breath, wishing she'd just left the mess for morning. Another shuffle, closer this time, near the front of the store. Too small for a person, she thought, maybe an animal?

But as she cautiously approached, the shadowy form resolved into something far more unsettling: a very large, bare-backed man, hunched in the corner. His muscles rippled, covered in what looked like old scars. “Sir, we're closed. You need to leave,” she managed, her voice wavering despite her best efforts. He trembled, and she noticed the brutal bruising on his face, the whip marks on his back. “Do you need me to call you an ambulance?” she whispered, heart sinking.

He slowly turned, just enough for her to see his face, then winced and shook his head, turning away. Impatience overriding fear, Sophie pulled out her phone to dial 911. But before her finger could touch the screen, a massive hand shot out, seizing her shirt collar. She gasped, her feet dangling high above the ground as she was hoisted to eye level with the colossal man.