5

I laid there for an hour; I could not get comfortable. I had not slept well last night; I was just shaken up from Uncle. My leg had stopped hurting. The bruise has gotten lighter but if I touch it some pain happens.

The dog barks had started to get closer. It had wandered in our front yard, but there was no way for me to check.

I had some beef jerky on my dresser I snacked on. BBQ was my favorite. It reminded me of the BBQ ribs Uncle would cook. They were so good. It would always set off the fire alarm though, it was part of the adventure.

I had heard some rustling here and there down stairs.

Uncle had not gotten up and out of his room yet though. I also have not heard any movement whatsoever. Something truly is wrong with Uncle.

I woke up around 2:00. I got sleep after all that has happened. I was just really worn out; my head had ached a little but nothing serious. My door was still closed, just like I left it. Getting up was not easy, but I really wanted to go check on Uncle Pete.

I walked out, and down my carpeted stairs. Turning the corner at full speed to not waste a moment of confidence. Almost skipping steps to reach the end of the hallway toward Uncle's door.

An aura of freezing air sat around the wooden door. My confidence dropped at once my hand went to touch the doorknob.

It is so, so cold.

The door knob was frozen to the touch. Turning it caused the door to scrape. The room had smelled worse than before. The damp carpet had created a horrible musty smell. My eyes had squinted, swelling in the moment of contacting the moist air. The room was dark, silent, and yet a beam of light came from a wall.

The light came from behind the bed. I did not want to take a single step through the disgusting carpet. Each step made a squishing, wet noise. Behind the bed, the light came from a hole in the wall. A hole that went to the outside. This being the only natural light I had seen in a long time. The hole had ragged edges. Insolation spilling onto the carpet. Drywall shattered everywhere. A lamp shattered beside the hole, with a red smear on what was left of the base.

I know what is on the lamp. I know what is on the lamp. Please do not be uncle's blood.

Uncle was nowhere on site. I had not even bothered to look, I was so distracted by the red, natural light upon the wall.

Did he create the hole? Did something break in? Is he ok? Is Uncle Pete, ok?

My breathing started to go unsteady. My chest started to hurt; my head started to spin.

I stepped back; my foot met with a wet splash. That is when a faint bark broke the silence. A growling hum from the other side of the wall. My head buzzed; my vision whipped past my head. Another bark echoed from outside. The call was full of anger. A defensive and large dog stood out there. Little sounds of nails scrapped into the room. The dog was making its way in. I threw myself toward the other side of the wall.

Grabbing the cabinet next to the bed, I gripped the edge and began to pull. Instantly, my ankle was met with the gripping pain of a dog bite.

In one swift motion I kicked my leg into the top of the hole, slamming my foot into the wall. The dog had let go with a nasty roar. Using the momentum of the kick, my body launched the cabinet onto the ground. The slam of the cabinet made the house shake with anger.

My body fell back onto the wet floor. I shifted my head over to see the hole had been covered. A growl and cry followed as little steps echoed away from the house.

My arm sat in the sludgy carpet, and I sighed. I sat up, wall to my back.

Blood rushed to my head; my ears kept on ringing. I could feel my heart break through my chest. My hand instinctively fell to my ankle. Pulling up my pants resulted in a scraping pain.

There was no blood coming from the wound. Only dark bruises. I got up and wobbled to the kitchen table. My body was covered in nasty carpet water. I leaned my body on the table, just like Uncle would do often.

Could it be that he was out there with the dog?