her chest. In her imagination, those ghastly creatures filled the room.
Rachel turned the doorknob and eased open the door. She flicked on the light, a scream building in her throat. Nothing. She exhaled a loud sigh. The cool air from the portable air conditioner at the front of the store didn’t flow into this room, and she inhaled dust and stale air. The room felt stifling and close.
The room held a table, a chair, boxes stacked along the wall, shelves of cleaning products, a broom, and other things that weren’t a phone. She turned off the light and closed the door. Dan and Enza must use cell phones and hadn’t installed a landline in the store.
She went back to the front door. The phone booth sat tantalisingly close to the store, but it would be crazy to step outside. She peered into the murky twilight. Nothing moved, but they were probably nearby.
Light flashed across the parking lot, and Rachel’s heart surged when she caught sight of the police car. Thank God. The police officers would help them. Rachel prepared to open the door and scream at them to run into the store. Her heart skipped a beat when four shadows slipped out of the trees. The vehicle stopped next to the empty police car already in the parking lot.
When the engine cut out, the car door flapped open, and a police officer stepped onto the gravel. He was a tall, muscular man, but Rachel suspected that wouldn’t help him much. She wrenched open the main door while the creatures cantered in his direction, moving with predatory swiftness.
Rachel threw open the screen door. The motion sensor triggered and light flooded the porch. “Look out! Shoot them!”
He started and gaped at Rachel, uncomprehending.
“Shoot them!” Hysteria laced her voice.
Still looking puzzled, the cop pulled his gun. The creatures lunged at him. The gun fired once, into the air, the cop’s arm knocked upward by one of the grey things. Rachel screamed when two of the beasts climbed the officer’s body and chewed on his head. His agonised screams ripped through her. Another shot, but it went wild again. The creatures never paused in their frenzy.
It was quick. When the cop fell to his knees and collapsed onto his stomach, Rachel slammed the doors and locked them. Why had they sent only one officer? She sank to the floor, put her arms around her knees, and lowered her face onto her arms. How would they escape?
She looked up when Spike came over and licked her arm. Jeff clung to Spike’s neck. Outside, all was silent. Inside, it was dim, the full moon shining in through the windows providing the only illumination. The motion-sensitive porch light had gone out.
Scrabbling noises came from above them. They’re on the roof.
Rachel broke out in a cold sweat. She examined the windows. The two overlooking the lake were the largest. The panes looked like thick, reinforced glass. She hoped the creatures wouldn’t be able to break them.
Something thudded against Rachel’s back. She jumped up and looked out onto the porch. A creature rammed itself into the door, bounced off, and rammed again. The porch light had flicked on again and spotlighted the monster hurling itself at the door. Its grey body pressed the window screen into the main door every time it hit.
The long skinny arms and legs flapped and pounded the wood below the screen. Large, luminous eyes gazed into hers through the window. Spikes protruded from its back. Sparse patches of black hair stuck out of its scalp.
It opened its mouth and hissed, revealing long, sharp teeth. Rachel jumped in terror when she heard a low growl next to her, but it was Spike. Thick sobs wrenched from deep in her gut. She tried not to picture the demonic creatures breaking in and ripping her, Jeff, and Spike to pieces.
Rachel turned on the lights. They needed to find a weapon. If the creatures had flesh, they could be hurt. If they could be hurt, they could be killed. Maybe Dan kept a gun in here. Or knives.
“Jeff, help me find something we can use as a weapon.” She didn’t wait for him, but rushed around, checking the shelves and behind the counter.
On a shelf, she found a box of knives in a variety of sizes. Rachel selected two sharp ones small enough for her and Jeff to hold. She hoped Jeff wouldn’t cut himself. No one would come and save them. They were on their own. Tomorrow, Daddy would arrive. He might stop in at the marina, or he might head straight to the cottage. But either way, he didn’t know what was waiting for him.
Rachel opened the door to the other room. She found nothing useful, though she even checked the little bathroom, and she returned to the main part of the store. Everything was silent. No scrabbling on the roof; no thuds against the door.
Stomach growling, she went to the fridges and opened the door to the one that held the drinks. It would be okay to help themselves to whatever they needed, she decided. Daddy would pay for it tomorrow—if there was anyone left to pay. She shoved the thought away and grabbed three bottles of water, handing one to Jeff.
“Are you hungry, Jeff?”
He nodded. He looked tired, too. Rachel found dog dishes on a shelf and poured water into one. She ripped open a bag of dog food and dumped the kibble into the other. When she set the bowls in front of Spike, he lapped at the water first.
She eyed the ice cream freezer and glanced at the shelves where the snack foods sat. If they wanted to eat cake, ice cream, or candy, no one would stop them.
“Can we eat anything we want?” Jeff’s tongue poked out of his mouth and he licked his lips.
“No,” she replied, disappointing herself.
Rachel went to the shelves and tried to find something that wasn’t dessert. A tin of salmon and a box of whole-grain crackers seemed the most palatable. Cheese and vegetables from the fridge would make it a reasonable dinner. She ripped open a package of paper plates, cleaned and prepped the veggies, and opened the tin of salmon.
While they ate, Rachel studied the layout of the store. They’d have to sleep here. Maybe it’d be safer to sleep in that little, windowless room. If the creatures found a way in while they slept … Rachel turned her thoughts away from that. She looked at Jeff, who’d stopped eating. His eyes drooped and his head nodded.
“We’ll sleep in the other room,” she said. “Let’s go. I’ll let you have treats before we go to sleep.”
Jeff shook himself awake. He glanced at the candy, then back at Rachel, as if he doubted she meant it.
“Yup,” Rachel said and pointed at the candy display. “Help yourself.”
They deserved it. After all, it might be their last meal.