As if in agreement, Barkey let out a series of sharp barks, tugging incessantly on his leash as he stared at something unknown in the treeline. Letting out a sigh, Lola maneuvered him away from the area, continuing their walk around the park.
A sudden chill ran up her spine, the hairs at the back of her neck slowly starting to stand on end. Freezing in place, she strained her ears, positive she heard a slight rustling in the bushes to the left of the trail. Scanning the area, she didn’t notice any movement, but something had set Barkey off and had her senses on high alert. The longer Lola stood immobile, the more certain she was that she wasn’t alone. Fear sent shivers through her body, as Barkey began to tug impatiently on his leash, almost begging her to get them both moving.
Giving her head a shake, she let out a laugh that sounded nervous to her own ears. “There’s nothing there, Mr. Puppy,” she told the dog, using her pet nickname for him in an attempt to chase away the terror that was still creeping around the edges of her senses. Propelling herself forward at a quickened pace, she sucked in a breath when the rustling sound grew louder and seemed to surround her on all sides. A light sweat broke out on her forehead. Without being fully aware of she began to jog, Barkey’s legs working overtime to keep up with her.
The shivers along her body increased, as she realized what the issue was.
Someone was watching her.
Not caring about anything, her jog immediately transitioned into a full-blown run. Footsteps pounded the gravelled path behind her, and Lola barely contained her scream. A million heinous scenarios played out before her eyes — captured and chopped to bits by a madman with a machete, her eyes scooped out by a psycho using only a spoon, a dog hater who tied her up and made her watch as he cooked Barkey as his next meal and finally, the worst fate possible. Taken and sold into slavery against her will. Her dark hair clung to her forehead as she ran and sweat poured down her back, causing her t-shirt to stick uncomfortably to her skin. Skin she might not be lucky enough to keep if she didn’t gain her freedom from the clutches of the park.
Why are you so stupid to walk alone in a secluded area, Lola?
Breaking through the trees, she came to a skidding halt before darting into the busy street. She had a split second to come to her senses and yank Barkey back before he took a flying leap onto the road, his anxiety heightened along with her own.
Steeling her spine, she chanced a glance behind her, relief washing over her when she saw she was alone. No one had followed her out of the park; it was possible no one had been there at all. Feeling ridiculous, she cast her gaze down at her faithful companion, who was staring up with her with an expression full of understanding. He clearly didn’t think she’d lost her marbles; at least that was something.
Then again, he was a dog.
Lola arrived back at home a short while after her imagined (or real) almost attack in the park. Her house had always been her safe haven; a gorgeous three story home with red-brown brick, a yard you could get lost in, and memories she wouldn’t trade for anything. She’d lived there with her family as long as she could remember, even before her mother remarried and they’d become a blended family. Her father had died when she was only two years old, not leaving her with many memories of him. Oliver, only a year older than her, somehow still remembered him; a fact that at times brought on thoughts of jealousy that she did her damndest to hide from him.
Their parents had gone away on a weekend getaway, meaning it was just herself and her brothers in the house. Lola was grateful that was the case, as her mother would have known immediately something was wrong. Rounding the corner of the large marble island in the kitchen, she unhooked Barkey's leash and regarded him with a small smile as he immediately raced to the large water bowl to rehydrate. Pleased that he at least seemed unscathed by their adventure in the park, she tossed her keys on the counter and headed for the upstairs bathroom, taking the stairs two at a time. Leaning her hands on the sink, she stared into the mirror. Tousled dark hair, pale skin and blue-gray eyes that suddenly seemed too big for her face stared back at her.
Had she imagined the whole thing? Or was it possible that someone had been following her? The likelihood of that seemed slim, it was much more feasible that like her, another person was simply enjoying the fall weather and perhaps searching for hidden treasures in the deeper parts of the treelines.
Turning the faucet, she splashed cool water on her face and gave her head a small shake. "Get a grip, Lo," she whispered.
"I've been telling you to get a grip for years, you never listen to me," Oliver stated from the doorway. Glancing up, she found him casually leaning on the door frame, regarding her
