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Dead and quiet Full of shadows

Tick picked up his pace

When he left the town behind hi to his house, the creepiness increased He couldn’t explain it, but Tick felt a constant chill in his bones, like sory watched hi both sides of the road, but saw only the tall shadows of the trees, black on black This time, Tick threw all reservations out theand si not to stop until he lay in his bed where he could cry hi on his feet so he wouldn’t trip, Tick had to consciously ignore the feeling that an enorht behind him, ready to tap him on the shoulder Goose bumps broke out all over his body, slick with sweat He kept running

He hborhood and finally to his house, not slowing until he reached the porch He stopped, bending over with his hands on his knees as he gulped in air to catch his breath He didn’t want to walk back inside panting like a chased dog But then the feeling he’d had near the forest returned full force and he ran up the steps to the front door

The handle rattled when he gripped it, but didn’t turn Locked He glanced at his watch where he could barely see it was just past eleven o’clock Tick stepped back, looking for the first time at all the s on the botto was dark, not a single light was on in the house Yes, it was late, but his dad was supposed to be telling a very long story to his mom, so surely his parents were still up They would stay up and watch for him, wouldn’t they?

Tick knew his dad kept a spare key to the house hidden in a fake rock placed behind the bushes He walked back down the porch steps and searched for it, even getting down on his knees to feel around with his hands But they ca the usual area several times

He couldn’t find the key anywhere

Tick sat back on his heels What in the world?

Frustrated, Tick gave up and walked back to the front door, where he reluctantly pushed the doorbell

A long moment passed No one answered Not a sound ca ain

Still no response

Finally, in a panic, he pushed the bell over and over again, hearing the loud ring through the wood of the door He stopped when he heard a boo shout; it sounded like it came from one of the upstairs bedrooms The shout was followed by a quick series of loud thu down the stairs Then the door jerked open, revealing a man Tick had never seen before in his life

"What do you want!" the stranger screa out of his mouth The man was pale and sickly, so thin he looked like he’d crumble into a pile of sticks at any moment His ruffled black hair stood up in patches on his head, his face covered in a scraggly beard Dark, sleep-worn eyes stared at Tick, full of fire and anger "Who are you, you little brat? What do you want?"