Page 29

“Travis! Wake up! There’s somebody out there!”

“What? What do you mean?” I jump out of bed.

“I was lying on the couch, and I saw what looked like a flashlight shining in the window. I thought I was mistaken, but then I saw it again. So I got up to look and saw a black figure running with a flashlight. I swear. It didn’t look like Manny or Kenny.”

“Let me see.” I go to the window. Nothing. I keep looking, and off in the distance, I see something moving. I run through the house and out the door. I look out toward where I saw the movement before. Everything is still. Everything is quiet. I stand there, in only my boxers, surveying quietly. I want to make sure they’re gone.

I look around the outside of the house, making sure everything is secure. I also look for evidence of our prowler. The bushes under the window by my room are trampled. Someone was here. I rush back in to check on Mia. I should have made sure she was ok before I went out. What if someone took her!? I throw open her door, and she’s sleeping peacefully in her bed. Thank goodness.

I go out to the living room to check on Ava. She’s sitting up on the couch, wide-eyed. She looks terrified.

“Hey,” I say softly so as not to startle her.

“Hey. Did you see anything?”

“No, whoever it was is long gone.”

“But there was someone? I’m not crazy?”

“There definitely was. The bushes over here are trampled." I point toward the window.

“Oh my gosh. Who could it be? And Why?”

“I don’t know. Nothing like this has ever happened before. We’re literally out in the middle of nowhere. I’ll talk to Manny and Kenny in the morning to see if they saw anything.”

“Are you sure it wasn’t one of them?” Ava asks hopefully.

“Positive. They would never trample through the bushes in the middle of the night. They know they can come in and get me anytime if they need me. They both have a key, not that we ever lock the door.”

“You don’t lock the door! Anyone could waltz in here and do who knows what?”

“Ava, we’re in the middle of nowhere. It’s not like people are just out there roaming around. My closest neighbor is miles away. And we all look out for each other. I’ll ask them if they’ve had anything fishy going on.”

“Ok.”

“Alright, let’s try to get some sleep, ok?”

“Yeah. Maybe you could leave your door cracked open a bit?”

“Sure.” I feel bad that she’s so scared. I’m tempted to invite her to sleep in the bed with me. It’s big enough that we don’t even have to touch one another.

“Ok, good night.”

“Night. Just holler if you need anything.”

Not three minutes later, Ava poked her head into my room, whispering, “Travis, are you awake?”

“Yes, I am.”

“Did you hear that?”

“Hear what?”

“The noise.”

“No, I didn’t hear anything.”

“Ok, I’ll let you get back to sleep.”