Young Writers Society

Killer in Seattle

“Sarah?” My mother’s voice sounds over the ruckus in the T.V. “Sarah get to bed! It’s late!”

“Fine, Mom just let me finish my news report.” I shouted through the double bathroom separating our rooms. “C’mere Sophie!” I call to my dog. The Pomeranian waddles up to me, then hops on my bed, staring blankly on the television. The announcer’s voice fills the room.

“We now have a warning to all living in Seattle.” I immediately look up from my dog as he says the name of my city. I stare wide-eyed at the flashing screen as the man continues. “A murderer has escaped the prison and is heading your way. I suggest locking all doors and staying away from windows.” I immediately shifted myself away from the glass panes on the wall beside my bed. I quickly switched the television off and hugged my dog tightly around the neck. The only sound was my mom’s snores and Sophie’s panting. After a few minutes of silence I carefully lower my dog to the floor and she skittered under my bed to her cushion.

I lay awake for a few minutes, panic still gripping me. “S-Sophie?” I say quietly. “I have an idea.” I lower my hand under the bed. Sophie’s muzzle and wet nose greets me. “Lick me once if the killer is in our neighborhood okay?” Sophie sniffles in response. “Then lick me again if he’s on our street. Then again if he’s in our house. Okay?” Sophie barks softly.

I settle myself under my covers, starting to calm down. In about 20 minutes, I begin to drift off to sleep. Then a wet tongue licks my fingers. Immediately jolting awake I shove myself farther under my comforter, still letting my hand lie near Sophie’s bed. I slowly drift into a troubled sleep until another lick is swept across my palm. Tears start to form in my eyes. A robber, on my street.

“Well....” I murmur to Sophie. “I-It’s not like he’s coming for us... right?” I sigh and roll back under my sheets. This time I can’t sleep. Then one last lick brushes my hand. I immediately jump out of my bed and run toward the double bathroom separating my mom’s room from mine. Wrenching the door handle I dash into the bathroom- and stop dead in my tracks. There was Sophie. Dead and mangled on the bathroom counter. I slammed into the wall behind me in shock. A shuffling sound comes from my mother’s room. Looking in the mirror I see a man holding a knife I’m frozen in fear as he starts toward me, a smirk on his face. I try to scream..... But all that comes out is blood. The man stands over my dying body. Then he utters four last words.

“Humans can lick too.”