Excerpt: Hollow Worlds (which apparently some graphic novel preemptively stole from me :( )

A random part, but oh well:
The tall stranger folded onto the street with a quiet ‘oomphk.’ Or maybe he was cursing breathlessly.

“Who are you?” I snapped, stepping away. The door had closed. Every window’s curtains were drawn. We were alone out here. Anything could happen. My nerves thrilled with danger. My pepper spray was at home, tucked in my backpack. All I had were fists and feet and bony elbows.

The guy groaned. He rolled over and the faintest glow from a streetlight hit his skin, white as clean paper.

“Oh- oh. I’m so sorry. Are you okay? I- I thought you were… you startled me. Sorry… here.” I knelt beside him and dragged him up. He grunted, apparently unused to fighting. “Are you okay? Can you breathe?”

“Not yet,” he wheezed. “What the hell? I was just… trying to help… you up…”

“Yeah, well… next time give me a warning.” Only people my shade wanted to hurt me. Other people, also my color, were determined to protect me. I ought to return to the latter group. “Um… do you happen to know where the library is?”

He wheezed.

“Which direction are the woods?”

“I don’t know. Jeez, you have strong legs.” He whooped and raked hair back from that moon-pale face, turning a scrawny gape onto me. “Are you a ninja or what?”

“No. I just... you startled me,” I said awkwardly. “Um… thank you. I think. Have a good night?”