Page 14 of Trick or Stalk

Makes sense. I locked it when we came inside from our walk.

I head through the house and check the back door.

It’s locked.

I even check the windows in the kitchen.

All locked.

By the time I return to the living room, Penny is sitting in front of the couch watching me.

“It’s probably just a raccoon.”

Her tail taps the floor.

“We’re safe. No one’s out there.”

Yet my head turns to the window. The uneasy feeling remains.

Shaking my head, I snatch the remote and turn off the horror movie.

I’ll find a sitcom. That's what I need. Something stupid and funny where nobody gets murdered, stalked, possessed, dismembered, or chased through the woods.

I find one and settle back onto the couch.

Penny immediately climbs onto my lap and curls against me.

I pull her closer.

For the next hour, I make myself concentrate on the television.

Eventually, my eyelids grow heavy.

“Bedtime, Penny.”

Penny stretches before jumping down.

I turn off the television and glance at the dying fire. Only glowing embers remain behind the screen.

I look down at Penny. “You don’t have to go potty, right?”

She just stares at me.

If she did, she’d cock her head, then run to the door.

“Good.” I glance at the front door. “Don't judge me. I just need to double-check it.”

Penny follows as I check both doors, turning off lights as I go.

I leave the porch light on.

Then I climb the stairs with Penny following me.

At the top, I stop and look down.

The first floor disappears into darkness below us.

For one irrational second, I have the strangest feeling that I'm not alone.