Chapter 3 : A Thief (2)

No, I shouldn't act like this. I need to be strong. I promised Grandpa that I'll be alright even if I'm alone. If he sees me freaking out like this, how disappointed he must be!

Determined to prove my resolve, I threw away my blanket, snatched my phone, and tip-toeing to the kitchen. As I walked, I tried to analyze the situation calmly.

At this point, I knew it's too late to run away. The thief was probably hiding in the garden, and I couldn't be sure if the thief was alone or had accomplices with them. It'll be game over if they ambush me outside. Hopefully, they didn't see me when I took a peek outside earlier. The best choice right now is to hide while calling for help. However, before that, I still wanted to at least have something that could be used as a weapon with me to defend myself. In the worst scenario where I get caught, I won't go down without a fight!

I always made sure to lock every door and window before going to bed, so hopefully, it will buy me some time before they decided to break in.

I purposely didn't turn on the kitchen lamp so as not to alert the thief. I pondered a bit and decided to take a fruit knife with me instead of the kitchen knife. It's smaller and easier to hide behind my clothes. I also took the pepper bottle with me.

After hiding both items inside my pocket, I planned to check Grandpa's room. I remembered Grandpa ever told me he often played golf when he was healthy and he stored his golf sticks within his closet.

I quickly but silently tip-toeing to Grandpa's room. It's been a while since I enter this room, but there is no time to reminisce. I opened the closet door and found the golf sticks stacked inside a big bag, then swiftly pulled out one.

Where should I hide? Grandpa was a simple old man living alone, so he only bought essential furniture for the house. I couldn't think of a good hiding spot. Places like a closet, cabinet, or under the bed are obviously out of question.

Then, I heard the bell rang.

I flinched in surprise. I can feel a cold sweat dripping on my back.

What? Why is the thief ringing the house bell? Is this some kind of trap? To lure whoever inside to open the door?

I shuddered at the thought of someone attacking me the second I opened the door. The feeling of danger surged tremendously within me. By impulse, I pulled out my phone from my pocket with trembling hands. I need to call the police right now.

I didn't know if this is because I was too flustered, but I suddenly forgot what number should I dialed. Meanwhile, the bell keeps ringing several times in a row, pressuring me even more.

Okay, if previously I could still calmly assess the situation, now it takes everything for me to not bolt out through the window right away. I seriously freaked out.

No, stay calm Eirlys! You need to call the police!

"Excuse me, is there anyone inside?"

The sound of bells was suddenly replaced by a soft and feminine voice. Whoever is outside seems tired of pressing the bell so they resorted to calling out instead.

"Hello? Anyone home? Please open the door. I need your help."

I was perplexed by how harmless the voice sound. I imagined a thief's voice would sound deeper and more threatening, but the voice I heard sounds humble and almost... childlike?

"Please. I'm lost and I need to borrow your phone. I neither have any money, nor I know the way back to my home."

The voice sounds so dejected I can't help feeling doubtful. I was still suspicious and very much alerted, but the earlier impending sense of danger has subsided a little.

I chose to give whoever outside the benefit of the doubt before calling the police. After all, it may become a false alarm, and I'll feel bad if I wrongly accused a person.

With my phone in one hand and a golf stick in the other, I approached the front door carefully.

"You better not try doing anything funny. I already called the police. You can speak to them when they arrive. I won't open the door." I said, trying to make my voice as firm as possible.

"I understand. Please do. Or you can just tell me the direction to the nearest police station and I will go there by myself."

They were so agreeable it surprised me. I thought I will need to threaten them once or twice more before they gave themselves away.

"Don't blame me for being suspicious, but I can only do this to protect myself. The nearest police station is pretty far from here, it'll need 20 minutes by car."

I could hear a sigh of frustration behind the door. "I don't have any money with me, so I can't take a taxi. I will very much appreciate it if you can call the police for me, big sister."

My voice must gave away my gender, but up to this point, I still couldn't detect any deviousness in their tone, so my body relaxed a little. I was lowering down my golf stick when I heard a rumbling sound from the other side, followed by a sheepish laugh.

"I am sorry for that. I haven't eaten dinner yet, so my stomach is a little loud."

From how feminine and young the voice sounds, I assumed the person on the other side of the door was a young girl, and I highly doubt she was lying since that rumbling sound was something you couldn't mimic. I often starve so I know that sounds well.

Brushing my suspicion aside, I parted the window curtain a little to take a peek outside. I could see a glimpse of a small figure wearing a blue dress standing outside. Oh my god, it is a child!