She heard the sound, processed it to recognition a fleeting moment before the creature hit the barrier. Her arm flew up immediately but it took all her willpower not to fire off the shot right away.

Like she'd told him: all her experience with flintlock pistols came from seeing them in the movies. She was no expert. But she seemed to remember that they were a one-shot kind of deal.

As much as she wanted to fire, she retained just enough presence of mind to realize maybe this wasn't the right moment.

"Out of curiosity..." She'd raised her arm, her jacket had bumped against her hip, the weight of the stun gun reminding her she'd carried it tonight just in case.

"Not that I intend to get close enough but if it came to it, what are my chances with a stun gun?"