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CHAPTER 1

The ainst the doorknob sends me out of my mind Whoever is there knows damn well that I’m in here I force et out of the tub Taking the only thing that I can use as a weapon, I grab a can of hairspray, intending to spray and set that lucky

The shadow shifts and the floorboards creak The nails jiggle the knob onceoes into heart failure territory Every inch ofcold I want to grab the towel and wrap it around my body, but I’m too afraid to turn away fro the water roll off ers clutch the can of hairspray tighter I shake it and pull the cap off, putting it down softly on the counter My nerves are shot to hell I know someone is on the other side of the door and for whatever reason, they haven’t opened it yet

I reach ers shake, as I lift the can of hairspray in ers touch the cold metal knob Every last breath of air is crushed out of ht whatever assailant lies on the other side

Without warning, I yank the door open I screa to see aiting on the other side After a second, I get enough of aze falls to the floor and I screa at me, and looks like it’s ready to attack

"Ahat the hell, what the hell, what the hell!" I screa and ju’s head, it twists to look at hts back It rears up on its hind legs when I’m airborne over its body My foot connects with the side of its head and the raccoon goes flying backwards into the bath, as I fall on the floor It splashes in the tub, whilesounds I’ve ever heard The ani to cliawk at it for a second and then scra into the living roo It darts pastwet, and cli like so me

When the knock at the door coh school kid that lives next door His gaze is downcast at first and he starts to ask, "I heard yelling and wanted to make sure…" His voice cuts off as he stares at me wide-eyed

The blast of fresh air and Ja brown eyes remind ing by the door and wrap it around me as quickly as possible I sla to hi hard and can’t catch my breath My pulse won’t slow and Ja the sweater tighter aroundout I pull the sweater down, but thenout Hysterical sobs start to bubble up my throat and James seems to re at the raccoon It’s perched on top of the bookcase with its hackles raised, hissing at us "That thing broke in I thought…I thought," I blubber,at it, "it was a--"

James finally snaps out of it He says calmly, "It’s fine, Miss Lamore He’s just spooked" Jaet in here?"

"I have no clue," I say,like a reed in a breeze I shiver and I can’t stop

Ja on my top shelf Its little black muzzle looks like it’ll ripand steps towards it I grab his shoulder, and scold hi! It’s crazy"

Jasounds The raccoon stops hissing, but still looks mortified It doesn’t move After a ?"

Nodding, I go to the kitchen to grab one and return, giving it to the kid "Don’t let it bite you Yourto kill me as it is"

James lifts the apple in the air He uses a pocket knife to cut set the first few pieces to the psychotic rodent, but eventually its stoiant fur ball climbs down James opens the front door and throws the remains of the apple outside The raccoon runs after it, and bounds down the front steps I slaainst the metal I closeinside of me

James clears his throat and seeh the chimney" The kid points at the old fireplace and the knocked over candles that had been on the hearth "I can tell the landlord to fix the trap, and you should board that up I have no idea how he squeezed his way down Usually squirrels are an issue, not raccoons"

I realize he’s talking, and blink Looking at hi, "No, I’ll tell the landlord about it You’ve been enough help" My face is burning I think I was running around naked in front of this kid for way longer than I should have I bite"Thank you"

He smiles aardly at me and says, "It was h the door I push it shut behind him