Page 6 of Three Reckless Words

It’s probably dead from losing power, too. I didn’t stop to dig out my charger and plug it in.

Great work, Winnie. Safety 101 and you fail.

I chew my lip, mulling over my options. With my rancid luck, it’ll be a rabid racoon, which I can fight off and then enjoy a blistering round of painful shots.

But at least Icanfight it off.

What if it’s a prowler?

I swear I can feel the blood draining from my face.

Oh, boy. Here we go.

Between knife-wielding bandits and wild animals foaming at the mouth, I’ll take the furry doom for sure. If it’s human and he means to do me harm, I doubt I’ll get a crack at a miserable ER visit.

Stop it. Pull yourself together.

You’re not this scared of a stupid racoon pawing around.

I am, in fact, very afraid of a stupid plague racoon, but hiding in the bathroom won’t solve anything. If I could just call animal control…

My phone is on the counter. Hopefully it still has a little battery life.

I just need to creep out and get it.

Balling up my spare towel like a club, I pad to the door and turn the handle slowly, carefully opening it.

Nothing out there but darkness and the LED wall light in the hall.

Okay. This is fine.

If it’s a dumb racoon, I have my weapon of choice—well, not choice, but I’ve got a weapon. If it’s an intruder—

I guess I’ve still got a weapon.

“Hello?” I call loudly, stepping into the hall.

It’s past sunset now with the moonlight dappling in through the windows, bathing the living room in this ghostly light.

There’s no movement. Nothing to suggest there’s anything nefarious waiting for me out there.

Heart in my throat, I take a few more steps, waiting for the inevitable axe murderer to leap out of nowhere and finish me off in one brutal swing.

But when Mr. Murdery doesn’t materialize, I hurry to the kitchen counter and snatch my phone. It’s still alive, thank God.

Barely. Looks like one of those annoying updates just ran, leaving it to boot up extra slow.

The screen lights up my face.

Sweet Jesus.

Come on, come on.

Why today?

Another noise makes me jump, something rattling.

“Hello?” I yell again, brandishing my towel club. “Who’s there? Anyone? If you’re a racoon, I’m all out of snacks!”

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