The Barking Ghost

21

A few minutes later, Fergie and I skulked around the backyard with our flashlights.

No moon tonight. No stars. A chilly mist hung in the air.

We both shivered.

I pointed my flashlight at the ground and searched for paw prints.

None. As usual.

"How come they never leave prints?" I muttered under my breath.

Fergie shrugged, but didn't answer. I could tell she was as scared as I was. She stuck close by my side.

The beam of my flashlight fell on the jungle gym. As I stared down at the ground ahead of me, something suddenly grabbed my ankle.

"Hey!" I yelled, tumbling in the dirt.

I twisted and squirmed, trying to break free. "Help!"

Fergie rushed over to help. Why was she laughing?

"What a klutz! You're all tangled up in the lawn sprinkler!" she exclaimed.

"It's not funny," I insisted. I was glad she couldn't see me blush in the darkness. "I could have broken my leg or something!"

Fergie bent down to help free me. Then she stopped. "Did you hear that?" she asked.

"Hear what?"

"Listen."

We waited silently in the dark. Hardly breathing.

Then I heard it, too. A soft creaking coming from the house. It sounded like an old door swinging open and shut.

We carefully made our way toward the sound. To my surprise, we found a small window low to the ground. I'd never noticed it before.

The window was open, swinging back and forth, making the creaking noise.

"It leads to the basement," I said, poking my head in. "Do you think this is how the dogs get into the house?"

Fergie didn't answer me.

"Fergie?" I called.

No reply.

A chill of fear shot down my back.

I spun around.

In time to see a dark form come charging at me.

Startled, I stumbled. The back of my head hit the house with a hard thwack.

The dark creature leaped on top of me.

Pinned me to the ground.

A sour smell filled my nostrils as I struggled to get up.

But I couldn't move.

The creature panted. Its jaws opened wide. Hot saliva dripped on to my face.

The big dog held me prisoner.

What did it plan to do next?