I stared at the note. What could this mean? Was someone playing a trick on me? Involuntary I glanced around, my gaze lingering on the windows and doors. I slowly set the note down with the envelope down on the table, letting my fingers brush across the picture frame of my older brother who I had lost contact with a couple years ago.

            I walked to each of the windows that let the black of night be shown. I locked the windows, stopping the flow of the warm summer air into the house. I let my eyes glance around once more before shaking my head and shutting the blinds. I went from one to the next locking and closing the blinds, shutting myself out from the rest of the world. Finally I stopped at the front door, letting my small beagle into the house. Kaco barked happily, wagging his tail back and forth, his butt in the air, his tongue hanging out.

            I shut the door behind him and locked it before, smiling, getting down to my knees and scratching him behind the ears. After a couple more minutes Kaco dashed off towards the kitchen. For such a small dog, he sure had an appetite. I sat down at the counter and picked up my book, flipping to the page were I had left off.

            As the clock chimed 12 o’clock, I stood up and stretched. I glanced back down at the table catching the letter I had received earlier. The handwriting was sloppy, probably a boy’s handwriting or someone in a rush. I started down the hall to my room when I heard Kaco start to bark furiously. Not his happy, playful bark, but the one that showed that someone unwelcome was here. Could it be tied to that note? But who would do that? Was someone actually out to get me? Was someone playing a trick on me? If so, who? Why? Questions zipped across my mind like bullets being shot. Then everything got silent all at once.

“Kaco,” I called in a little bit louder than my “inside” voice. No reply.