Chapter 31
Caleb
Lightning struck, quicklyfollowed by rolling thunder so loud I felt it in my bones.
“Come on Duke, we gotta go in before—”
As if the sky was taunting me, it immediately opened the floodgates. Duke had almost made it back to the porch before the rain began, too.
Duke jumped up on the porch and skidded to a stop at the door. “I’m sorry, buddy. I had no idea it would rain that hard, that fast.” I opened the door to let us in and asked him to sit in the entryway while I grabbed a towel from the laundry room. Duke shook before we came in, but water spots still speckled the floor when he shook again. The look on his face made me laugh because I could tell he really hated the rain and was not too pleased with me right now for the last-minute bathroom break.
Duke sat at the door. He was such a good boy, but I needed to hurry before he couldn’t handle sitting still any longer.
I grabbed a clean towel and walked back to Duke, still sitting like a perfect gentleman.
“Good boy, Duke.” I dried him off as best as I could and then released him so he could let his zoomies out.
I smiled to myself as I looked down the hall and saw my bathroom light was on. Rae was getting the toothpaste by herself, so that means she trusts me enough to know I am not setting her up to using it and then getting mad—good.
I laughed as Duke spun around in the middle of the room before stopping, only to run, spin, and stop again.Gosh, I wish Rae was out here to see this.
“Hey, Rae, did you find the toothpaste?” I called to her while laughing at this crazy dog.
“Yup, I—”
Lightning struck, and we were in immediate darkness.Crap.I checked my pockets and didn’t have my cell phone with me.Where did I even leave it?I walked to the couch and felt around but couldn’t find my phone. Normally, I’d be fine since I knew this house like the back of my hand, but I also didn’t have any candles or lanterns ready for Rae.
I started to walk swiftly down the hallway to the closet where I kept the lanterns when I heard a loud thud, followed by a groan sound.Did she fall?“Rae, honey! I’m coming now. I’m sorry I don’t have my phone with me to give us light.”
Lightning struck and it illuminated my path to the bathroom for half a second.
“Hey, Sunshine. I’m here.” I really need to get solar night-lights for moments like this. I heard small thudding sounds near the ground like something was hitting the bathroom cabinets.
Lightning struck again behind me, and I saw her curled up in the corner of the bathroom, wedged in the corner of the cabinet and the wall.Crap.
“Hey, Sunshine, it’s Caleb. I’m walking up to you.” I felt her foot make contact with mine and then it sounded like she was flailing her arms and only making contact with the cabinets. She was trying to protect herself—good. The smallest sounds came from her direction, but no words.
I needed to try and talk her down before making any contact, so I sat a couple feet away from her.
Lightning blinded us every few minutes, and the thunder shook the entire house. Duke seemed worried about Rae but also scared of the thunder, so he tried to run to her for comfort and to comfort her.
“Hey, not right now, Duke. Lie down, boy.” I could hear his claws tapping on the bathroom tiles, and then I felt him press against my leg before lying down with a big thud. “Good boy, Duke.”
I spoke to Rae again, just letting her know I was here, and she sounded like she was struggling to breathe—like she was choking. Oh my gosh, my attempt at calming her did nothing to help. I instantly felt horrible.
“Rae, it’s Caleb. It’s me, honey.” I moved in front of her.
“Caleb,” she squeaked out, and my heart broke. She was terrified.
I reached out and touched her leg to try and make some gentle contact. She kicked me. I pulled back quickly. I didn’t know what to do besides try and wrap her in my arms so she could feel it was me. She hit and kicked me, but I didn’t care. I needed her to know she was safe because right now, she was terrified. Sharp pain hit my jaw, and I felt blood start to trickle down my neck.
“Rae! Sunshine! It’s me!” I shouted. She stilled for a heartbeat and then started to fight again. “Caleb, help!” she cried. Her voice was so faint, so scared.
