Page 8 of Peripheral Vision (Tethered in Darkness Duet #1)

Something in the backseat catches my attention.

It isn’t anything consequential, and yet I recognize it from somewhere.

It’s a military duffel, the same one all SEALS receive, but on it sits a faded Velcro patch.

One of many, in fact. But it sits separate from its counterparts because of the absolute flippancy of it.

It’s a duck holding a knife and it says, “I choose violence”.

I can’t help but laugh thinking of a hardened military fighter going into warfare with that.

I suppose it’s possible I’ve seen it before because it isn’t the only one of its kind, but even so, it is familiar.

I turn back to my house, the lights illuminating my driveway like its own personal halo when I swear I see a shadow dart across the hall downstairs.

I listen for barking, but Alaska doesn’t alert of any intruders, not that I think she would…

I rush back to my driveway and duck behind my own vehicle before I withdraw my gun and slowly approach the front door.

I reach out for the door handle, and when I go to twist it, the door swings subtly open on its own.

Now I know for a fact someone is in my house.

Again. I could call the police back, they could be here within minutes…

but something has me hesitating. I try to tell myself it’s because they would just find me nonsensical and paranoid, but it’s something deeper than that.

However, if something does end up happening and I do confront whoever happens to be in my house, they’ll call me groundless anyways for doing something so stupid.

I slowly inch my way in, listening for the sound of any creeping footsteps or the groaning of wood as somebody stalks across it.

But once again, I’m met with eerie stillness.

“I know you’re in here. I’m armed and the police are on their way,” I lie.

“If you come out now, we can solve this civilly.” But even I’m not convinced by the slight waver in my voice, and whoever is here isn’t either because they don’t respond back.

Taking several deep breaths, I check my corners before moving deeper into my home.

I wasn’t quiet when I slammed the door, hoping it would scare the intruder out if I couldn’t talk them out.

It’s possible they aren’t inside anymore, which is why I make sure to check the back door before surveying the rest of the house.

It’s still locked. As I’m about to turn around to prepare to go upstairs, large arms encircle my body, pinning my arms to my side so I can’t lift my weapon.

I try screaming but he slides one of his arms up to cover my mouth with his hand while simultaneously pushing my front against the door to make sure I can’t break his hold.

A deep and masculine voice breaks through the deafening sound of blood rushing through my head.

“Drop it.” I don’t. “Drop the fucking gun, now. I don’t want to hurt you.

” I huff out a breath that conveys, then why the fuck are you in my house?

“Jesus Christ, always so stubborn,” he mutters under his breath.

Excuse me? Always? Does he know me? Perplexed, I try slamming my head against him, hoping to catch him against the bottom of his chin, except I collide with a stiff wall of muscle.

I knew that my chances were low when his arms wrapped around me and I realized that just one of them was as large as a goddamn tree trunk.

Well, that might be an exaggeration, but either way they’re enormous.

And so is he. And I think I just managed to piss him off.

His breath touches my ear as he tightens his grip on me and growls out, “Did you really just try to headbutt me?” A dark chuckle works its way up his chest and goosebumps break out over my skin.

“I really tried to be nice about this, gorgeous, but you aren’t leaving me with many options, so I guess we have to do this the hard way.

” And just as fast as the words leave his mouth, he removes the arm from around my waist, grabbing my gun arm, and quickly disarms me.

He then removes his other arm that’s holding my mouth to help pin both behind my back before pushing me back up against the door and replacing his hand over my lips.

I wish it wasn’t so damn dark on this side of the house so I could see his reflection in the glass, and I wish I wasn’t smashed against said glass so I could at least try.

I think that maybe he’s about to give me a chance to check, but instead he spins us around. “Walk.”

Moving forward, I realize that this could be it.

Maybe he came back because he decided the game was too much effort and it was just easier to skip to the ending.

Panic immediately overloads my senses, and I start thrashing.

I try to push backward and flail my legs to do anything to throw him off balance, but he is relentless in his determination to get me wherever he wants to take me.

I wish he would give me any leeway, that his hand would slip or something that would allow me to bite down to get him to release his grip.

I know I’m acting like a wild animal, but maybe if he sees me like this it will make him less interested.

And to my surprise, he stops. Is it working? “Sorry to do this, sweetheart.”

Suddenly, I’m shoved away from him and everything goes dark as a door slams behind me.

Scratching follows before something bumps the door and I realize I’m in a closet.

“Hey, wait!” I turn around and try opening the door, but it won’t budge.

“You can’t leave me here! I live alone! I don’t even have my phone!

” But silence greets me on the other side.

I bang against the panel and yell, “What kind of stalker are you, anyway? I mean who the fuck breaks into somebody’s house, attacks them, and then locks them in a closet to leave?

You seriously suck at this!” I have no idea why I’m taunting him.

I’m just saying whatever comes to my mind to prevent my anxiety from seeping in that I could be locked in here and unable to get out.

I’m not sure if there is anything useful in here to help me do so, and I certainly don’t have the body strength to use sheer force, but a few minutes later I hear some movement before an item skates across the floor. My phone.

“A thank you would be nice,” he chides from the other side of the door. And then he’s gone.

“I’m sorry, he did what?!” Thea yells, and a little bit too loudly by the way heads are turning in the cafe.

“For fucks sake, Thea. A little privacy would be nice,” I say as I rub at my temples profusely. “You and I both know you heard me perfectly clear.”

She lets out an incredulous laugh. “Yes, but do you hear yourself? I mean, who does that? Maybe he’s playing a game of psychological warfare with you.”

“I have no idea. But it was single-handedly the weirdest experience of my life. I’m not even sure how to move on from it.

Should I be afraid? Should I feel resolved?

I still have no idea why he was in my house.

I didn’t find anything missing and I certainly didn’t find anything additional to my wardrobe.

And when I went back upstairs, Alaska was perfectly fine, as though there wasn’t an intruder in the house.

She was sleeping as soundly as she ever has. ”

“Is it possible that this is someone you know?” she asks.

“I mean, think about it. Whoever he is has been in your house twice now, and each time Alaska has remained neutral. I know she’s a sweetheart, but even the most kind-natured dogs bark when someone they don’t know enters their territory.

Especially when it sounds like you were making as much noise as you could to get away from him.

Just saying.” She looks at her fingernails before looking at me matter-of-factly.

I take a sip of my coffee. “But if Alaska knows this person, then wouldn’t I? She’s my dog, she wasn’t my dad’s. And it isn’t like we had a ton of traffic coming through here over the last few years.”

“Guess you better sit and start doing some evaluating. On another note, how the hell did you get out of the closet?”

“I called my neighbors. Believe me, it was a much easier option than calling you so you could record the whole thing and post it to whatever social media site that tickles your fancy. I didn’t have to elaborate so much either.

They thought it was just an honest accident on my part.

‘Oh, I haven’t been sleeping well since getting the news my dad passed and must have accidentally locked the closet and not propped it open appropriately. ” I feign a high-pitched voice.

“Okay, first of all, how dare you assume the worst of me? Second of all, I absolutely would have, but that isn’t the point. And third, that closet door doesn’t automatically hinge closed.” She points an accusatory finger at me.

“Yeah, but they didn’t need to know that” I point right back at her.

“Well, if I were you, I’d probably be feeling equally afraid and resolved, and maybe slightly turned on.

” I smack her on her arm, shaking my head, but equally curious.

“On the one hand, he doesn’t seem to be out to get you.

But on the other hand, he is probably still doing this for a reason.

Is there some sort of secret wealth your dad kept hidden away that others may know about?

Something you haven’t even told me, perhaps? ”

“If there is, he never told me about it. To think of all the problems that could solve for me right now… not to mention I’d have gone overboard on baby items for you,” I say, chuckling .

“Damn right you would. This baby isn’t gonna dress him or herself.” She winks. “Speaking of solving problems, how is the rental search coming? Have you found anything yet?”

“I’m waiting to hear back on one right now. It’s small, but considering it’s only Alaska and I, and it’s in my price range, I don’t mind that so much. It’s got character and backs up to the woods. Oh, and it’s got an extra bedroom in case you and the little one ever need to escape.”

Beaming, Thea throws herself across the table to pull me into an embrace. “And that is why we are best friends. God, I’m going to miss you. You know you’re always welcome at ours too, right? The house is empty enough as it is when Lucas is gone, so don’t be a stranger.”

“Never.”

When Thea and I are finished at the cafe, I head back home again to check my laptop to see if the landlord of the house had gotten back to me.

To my surprise, and my delight, they had not only gotten back to me, but were wondering how soon I could move in.

Apparently, they’ve been having trouble finding tenants that were up to their standards.

How they settled on me checking their boxes, I have no idea, and I don’t ask. I am just happy to have been selected.

“Seems like the odds are in my favor…” I mutter out loud.

A welcome change from the last few weeks.

Since I have a few days yet until the funeral, I ask to come and tour the property before I fully commit, and they get back to me right away with a list of times that work for them over the next week.

I also make sure to ask if it would be alright for me to bring some items to drop off in case I decide to say yes, sign the lease, and pay the deposit.

The property is already prepared to be moved into, so I might as well try to kill a few birds with one stone.

Since I will be over by the school, and I doubt there is much that will get me to say no to the property, I’ll just drop off my in-person enrollment, too.

Now all I have left to do is to find a job.