"Most likely not, no," Carmen agreed gently. "This place works in mysterious ways like that, and sometimes it's not to our benefit — but sometimes it is. I knew someone once who'd escaped from...something malevolent back home. It wasn't able to follow that person here; whatever force created this place, it seems intent on shielding it from outside forces, too."

Of course, that wasn't all there was to it, was there?

"...but I'll stay up with you, if you want. Until the date changes over for certain," she offered.