Joy and laughter filled the air as a gentle breeze blew through the tent, where the family gathering was going to be held. It was a nice, breezy spring day. My younger siblings chased each other around in the grass. Pretzels dipped in smooth, milk chocolate; traditional chex mix; and colorful fruit kebabs were being assembled in the kitchen by my mother and me. There was a loud bang from the front of the house.

John came around the house and yelled, “Get in the house now!” Everybody hurried into the house and up the stairs, stumbling over each other. My father stood in the living room and motioned us to go into the safe room.

I crept over to the window and took a peek. There were three large, buff men dressed in dark clothing running towards the house. They had some type of weapon in their hands, but it was getting too dark to make out what it was. The men surrounded the front of the house. Two of them stood at the corners and other at the front door. The man at the front door took a quick glance upwards and then back at his buddies. I took a sharp turn and hugged the wall. I had a feeling he saw me; I just knew it! I felt my heart jump out of my chest. I felt myself triple in weight and couldn’t move a single inch. I grabbed the phone nearby and called my friend, Mark.

He answered, “Hel…”

“There are three guys in front of my house with weapons,” I interrupted, “I need your help quick!”

 “Whoa! Hold up babe… I’ll be right over,” Mark replied. A loud thud comes from below.

“Please hurry they are trying to break in!”

The phone clicked and I felt myself shrivel up into nothingness in the corner of the room. I sprinted across the hall to the room where my family was gathered.  My parents were huddled around my younger siblings, trying to calm them down. My older brother Tim sat in the corner of the room crying and shaking. He’s not like any other typical guy; Tim was someone special. I rushed over to him and pulled him close to me. I felt fear racing through him as he broke out into a sweat.