"They're here"— This echoed in her mind. Her back door was splintered, forced open by someone with strength and determination. The cozy sanctuary of her home no longer felt safe.
Shadow, ever-watchful, sat beside her with his body taut and alert. His golden eyes flicked between her and the windows as if sensing her fear. For the first time, she was grateful she wasn't entirely alone.
Her thumb hovered over the call button for several seconds before she pressed it, her heartbeat loud in her ears.
"911, what's your emergency?" The dispatcher's calm voice cut through her panic.
"I—" Lena paused, trying to steady her voice. "Someone broke into my house. The back door… it's been forced open."
"Are you safe right now? Are you inside the house?"
"Yes, I'm inside with my dog. I don't think they're here anymore, but—" She glanced nervously at the window. The darkness outside seemed endless, impenetrable. "I'm scared they might come back."
"Stay on the line. Officers are on their way. Make sure all doors and windows are locked. Is there anywhere you can go to stay safe?"
"This is my home," Lena whispered. She hated how small her voice sounded.
"Understood. Just stay where you are, and we'll stay on the line until help arrives."
Lena set the phone on speaker and placed it on the coffee table. Shadow nudged her hand with his nose, his warm, solid presence grounding her. She reached out, running her fingers through his fur.
"It's going to be okay," she whispered, though she wasn't sure if she was reassuring Shadow or herself.
The minutes that followed felt like hours. The dispatcher stayed on the line, asking Lena periodic questions to ensure she was safe. Despite the calm voice on the other end, every second was filled with tension.
Lena's ears strained to catch any sound from outside. The faint rustling of leaves or the distant hum of traffic made her jump. The house, once her refuge, now felt foreign and hostile.
Shadow's ears perked up suddenly, his body stiffening as he faced the front door. Lena's breath caught. "What is it?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
He let out a soft growl, his gaze fixed on something unseen.
Before panic could take hold, the distant sound of sirens reached her ears. Relief flooded her as the sound grew louder, piercing through the stillness of the night.
The flashing red and blue lights illuminated her driveway, their glow cutting through the oppressive darkness. Lena rushed to the door, unlocking it just as two uniformed officers stepped onto her porch.
"Miss Woods?" one of them asked, his flashlight sweeping over her pale face and trembling hands.
"Yes, that's me," she said, stepping aside. "Please, come in. The back door… someone forced it open."
The officers exchanged a glance before nodding and stepping inside. One moved toward the back of the house while the other stayed with Lena, asking her questions about what she'd heard and seen.
Shadow trailed after the officer heading toward the kitchen, his movements deliberate and cautious, as if he understood the gravity of the situation.
"It looks like someone used a tool to force this door open," the officer inspecting the damage said when he returned. "We didn't find anyone in the area, but they may have been scared off. Do you know anyone who might have a reason to target you?"
Lena shook her head. "No. I don't know why anyone would do this. I'm just a vet—I don't have enemies."
The officer nodded thoughtfully. "We'll file a report and increase patrols in the neighborhood. In the meantime, it might be a good idea to reinforce your doors and windows."
"Thank you," Lena murmured.
"Call us immediately if you notice anything unusual," the second officer added.
As they left, Lena watched the patrol car disappear into the night, the feeling of safety leaving with it.
Back inside, Lena locked the door and leaned against it, exhaling a shaky breath. The house was quiet again, but the silence was no longer comforting.
Shadow padded over to her, his eyes searching hers. He let out a soft whine, and she knelt to wrap her arms around him. "What are we going to do, boy?" she whispered into his fur.
Her thoughts churned. The strange man's warning echoed in her mind. "They're here." Who were "they"? And why were they after her?
Shadow nudged her hand with his nose, breaking her spiral of thoughts. She looked down at him, his golden eyes steady and unwavering. "You're my only ally in this," she said softly.
That night, Lena tried to focus on fixing small things to keep her mind occupied. She barricaded the back door with a heavy chair, checked all the windows again, and even rearranged her living room furniture to make it feel less exposed.
Shadow followed her every step, his presence a quiet reassurance.
As the hours passed, the tension in Lena's shoulders began to ease. She found herself sitting cross-legged on the floor with Shadow lying beside her. His massive head rested on her lap, and she absentmindedly stroked his fur.
"You're not just a dog, are you?" she said, her voice barely above a whisper. She chuckled softly, shaking her head. "Listen to me, talking to you like you can answer."
Shadow huffed, the sound almost like a laugh.
Lena smiled despite herself. For the first time that night, she felt a flicker of normalcy.
Exhaustion finally pulled Lena to bed, though sleep didn't come easily. She lay in the darkness, her mind replaying the events of the evening. Shadow curled up at the foot of the bed, his presence a silent guardian.
She must have drifted off eventually because the next thing she knew, she was startled awake by a faint, glowing light.
Disoriented, Lena blinked and sat up, her heart racing. The light wasn't coming from her lamp or the moon outside. It was coming from the foot of her bed.
Shadow was standing there, his golden eyes glowing unnaturally bright. The faint aura of light that surrounded him pulsed like a heartbeat, casting eerie shadows on the walls.
"Shadow?" Lena whispered, her voice trembling.
The dog turned his head to look at her, his gaze intense and almost… human.
And then, as quickly as it had appeared, the light vanished, leaving only darkness and the sound of Lena's rapid breathing.
Her chest tightened as a chilling thought settled over her: Shadow was more than just a dog. But what was he?