Directions, directions... Screw it, she was awful at directions, especially when it was dark out. Half-skidding through the grimy streets as she shoves her katanas back into their sheaths, she glances around nervously for some signal on which way to turn. There was a light around somewhere, right? She remembered seeing it... sometimes. Honestly, she'd been planning on going until the break of dawn. Maria didn't think monsters could think enough to gang up on her.

The gunshots made her turn her head, and she was a little surprised to see this kid sticking with her - and apparently being helpful, to boot! That might be a stroke of luck. Even with her swords on their side, 2 people were still better than one for dealing with a whole lot of monsters. And if it made him feel better, she hadn't been intentionally leaving him there as bait...

On the other hand, walls were not something that could be dealt with any better if there were two of them. She skids to a stop at their blocked package - some huge 18-wheeler rusting away in the middle of the street, courtesy of the Darkness. Great. Maria makes the split-second and completely baseless decision to take a left into the nearest alleyway - but this time she does have the heart to beckon to Jake too. "Come on! This way, amigo!"

Alleyways are definitely safer at night.