I woke with a start!
I had been dreaming. I was running through the woods with men in pursuit. I could not see them, but I could hear their feet chasing me, and smell the rancid odor of their breath just a few feet behind. Running through the forest, I caught my foot on a root and fell face first. Just as one of the men was on top of me, I awoke.
The dream had been coming more often lately. I got out of my bed and made my way to the bathroom. I splashed water on my head and face, and as I was leaving the room I heard the tinkle of broken glass, coming from downstairs. I turned off the bathroom light and listened. I could hear the swift padding of feet coming up the stairs. And then two quiet shots -- pfft, pfft.
"Shit, he's not in the bed" said a rattly voice.
"Where is he!" said a second voice, who appeared to be Rattly's partner.
I could see their shadows make their way across the bedroom as I hid behind the door in the bathroom. They lifted up the mattress, and looked in the walk in closet that Julie had demanded we build. Just as they were turning their attention to the bathroom, car lights lit up the window.
"Let's get out of here" said Rattly and the two intruders headed down the stairs and out the door.
