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AndIhaven’t forgotten a single note.

Beneaththe sound of “PensandPages,” there’s an extra sound that doesn’t seem like it’s coming from my guitar.

Mutingthe strings, feedback hums untilIdetect the odd note: the sound of knocking.

Idon’t remember it being windy out tonight, so it shouldn’t be bushes banging the siding.

Afterkilling the amp and setting my guitar back in its place,Ipoke my head outside the music room and listen.Creepingdown the hall, making as little noise as possible, the noise guides me to the kitchen.

Thesheer curtain covering the door window darkens.Adark outline of a body peeks through.

Thedoor rattles on its hinges.

Carefullydrawing closer, the figure outside is taller than me and wears a cowboy hat.

Ibump into a chair with a loud scrape.

Mybreath hitches, andIfreeze in place.

Whoeveris outside stares straight at me with black eyes that glitter in the darkness through the sheer curtain.

Allof my nerves light up like firecrackers.Adrenalinecourses through my veins, begging me to get away from the door.

BANG!

Ijump backward, running into the table.Achair topples over and skitters across the floor.

BANG!

Runningfor the living room,Ishrink around the corner and clutch at my heaving chest, gasping for breath and blinking rapidly to make sense of the darkness.

BANG!

Theclattering of the window in the door echoes in my teeth.Holdingmy breath,Ipeek around the corner into the kitchen.

Ashadow moves across the window.Fearshoots straight up my spine and passes over my lips in a harrowing whimper.

Thehouse falls silent.

Forcingmy foot to quietly glide over the floor,Itake a step back.

Somethinghard and stocky stops me.

Iscream, jumping a few feet forward until hands grab my arms.

“Steph, hey, it’sDad!”

Myheart throttles in my chest, thumping a million beats a minute. “JesusfuckingChrist,Dad!”

“Sorry,” he offers, squeezing my shoulders. “Maybeturn a light on, huh?Wasthat you making all that noise?”

Ishake my head.

Dadhuffs. “Iswear, if it’s that damn calf outta the pasture again,I’mgonna turn it into a steak.”

Inod, breath heavy. “Yeah.”

Hestrides toward the door and pulls the curtain aside, peering into the backyard. “Well,Idon’t see nothin’ out there.”