Page 12 of Trick or Stalk

“It’s nothing, Penny.”

She doesn't look at me.

Her body remains stiff against my leg.

Then she growls.

I stop smiling.

Penny isn't exactly intimidating. She's small enough to carry under one arm and spends a concerning amount of her day trying to convince me she hasn't eaten five minutes after finishing her food.

But she doesn't growl at nothing.

At least, she never has before.

“What is it?”

Her gaze remains fixed on the window.

I mute the television. Silence fills the house.

The sudden absence of screaming and dramatic music somehow makes everything worse.

I listen.

Nothing.

No footsteps.

No voices.

Just the faint crackle of the fire behind me and the occasional tick of the old house settling around us.

Penny growls again.

A chill works its way down my spine. “Stop it.”

As if she understands me, she stops.

Unfortunately, she continues staring at the window.

I place her on the couch, pull the blanket off my legs, and stand. “This is ridiculous.”

I take a step toward the window.

Penny jumps down and follows me. Naturally. Because apparently we're investigating now.

I slowly cross the room.

The closer I get to the window, the harder it becomes to see outside. My reflection stares back at me, pale and slightly freaked out.

I cup my hands around my eyes and lean closer to the glass.

My gaze moves over the porch.

The walkway.

Grandma's flower beds.