“What the hell is going on?” I said loudly.
I went back to the library and grabbed my letter opener.
Jameson was sitting at the bottom of the stairs, staring up, growling.
“Come on, boy.”
I ran upstairs.
At the top, I stopped and listened.
Nothing.
I told Jameson to stay there.
I went into our bedroom and flipped on the lights.
Everything looked the same as it had when I went downstairs.
I checked the closet. Nothing.
I knew I’d heard something.
I knew I had. Damn it.
“Good boy. Stay.”
I went to into the next spare bedroom.
Clean. Unused.
“Let’s go.”
Am I losing my mind?
I knew I’d heard something running upstairs. I knew I had.
I walked back down the stairs, listening for any small sound.
The house was quiet.
The mug was still sitting there.
I picked it up again, studying it, trying to be sure I hadn’t seen it before.
Maybe I had.
“This is bullshit,” I said “Whoever’s here, know I am armed, and I won’t hesitate.”
I headed for the backdoor with the mug.
I flung it open and was hit by a violent gust of wind that nearly knocked me backwards.
I staggered, caught my balance, and hurled the cup as hard as I could.
I forced the door closed and locked it.
I went back to the library to get my phone.
I was calling Dad.
Something wasn’t right, and he was the closest to me.
I dial his number.
Someone answered on the first ring.
“Hello? Dad, can you hear me?”
Damn Appalachian hills.
“It’s me, Kate.”
“Time to pay up, Kate.”
Came through the phone.
I screamed and dropped it.
“What the hell!”
My head spun. My heart slammed against my ribs.
I closed my eyes.
“Kate, you’ve got to calm down.” I said
“You’re clearly having some kind of breakdown. Just breath.”
I fell back against the counter.
“God, I’m not cut out to be a damn engineer,” I said half laugh slipping out.
“The stress is getting to me.”
I took a few deep breaths and opened my eyes.
And there, staring back at me, was that damn mug.
“No. I threw that cup away. I know I did!”
I grabbed it and marched for the door, yanking it open and pitching it outside again.
The stereo kicked back on, Nine Inch Nails screaming through the room.
I stormed into the library and shut it off.
“Screw you. This isn’t funny.”
Jameson was barking.
I went to find him.
He was at the hall closet, hackles raised, ready to pounce.
I pulled out the letter opener
I swung the door open.
Jameson pounced, and I swung blindly.
I hit air. And jackets.
Jameson stood there with my jacket in his mouth, looking confused as I felt.
I shut the hall closet. And headed back toward the kitchen.
That was when I saw it out of the corner of my eye, a black shape standing in the doorway to the library.
I turned to look.
It was gone.
“Kate, you are losing it. You didn’t see anything,” I said calmly.
I headed back to the kitchen to get my purse and keys.
“Kate, time to pay up.”
I ran to grab my purse.
“Jameson, come on. We’re leaving. Now.”
He didn’t move.
He was locked on the library, growling, teeth bared.
“Jameson, come on, boy. We’ve got to go,” I said, my voice wavering.
I couldn’t move.
I didn’t want to know what was in there.
But I couldn’t leave without my dog.
“Jameson, come on, baby. Please?”
I inched toward the doorway.
I couldn’t explain it, but something pulled at me, urging me closer.
I couldn’t’ resist.
“Hi, Kate. Time to pay up.”
Sleep tight. Until next time!
Calden Knox
