One Day at a Time - (Season One)

Chapter Nine: Not Sick, Dead

"What is that?" Mrs. Clark hissed, pointing at the blood Marty had spotted on the dog's fur.

"Is- Is he hurt?" Alicia stammered.

The dog's agitated panting filled the room as Nick lifted his bloody hand away before admitting, "I don't think that's his blood."

Chills ran down her spine. Marty hadn't known until that moment, but she would have preferred it to be the dog's blood and not- well, honestly, she would have preferred it if there was no blood.

As if on cue, the dog sprinted through the house and to the front door as he barked viciously. Nick quickly shot up from where he'd been crouching and limped after him to peer through the window, Alicia and Mrs. Clark were fast on his heels, while Marty eyed the glass door that was still open with mistrust.

"Shit, he's coming this way." Nick hissed out with urgency before informing them as he headed for the back door, "Okay, the Trans have a gun. Shotgun. I tried to steal it once." He ignored his mother's disappointed look with an expertise that revealed years of disregarding his mother's opinions on his life choices.

"Alicia, stay close." Mrs. Clark demanded as she followed her son, "Don't stop."

"Come on," Alicia turned to her when Marty froze.

Marty shook her head, "No, Lukas is sleeping." she was not about to take her brother out of the house and climb over the fence into their neighbor's yard. Marty wasn't even sure if they would make it there in time before Mr. Dawson reached them, "I'll wait here. Shut the glass door, ju-just in case. I'm gonna get the dog to stop barking before he wakes up my brother."

The younger teen nodded fearfully as she shut the door behind her and started climbing over the fence with the rest of her family. Having the glass door shut helped alleviate some of her fears as she sprinted to where the dog was still barking furiously at the other door.

"Hey!" Marty scolded the animal firmly, "Shh. Shh." the dog let out a whimpering protest but didn't really put up a fuss when she grabbed his collar and started dragging him into Nick's bedroom. She locked the bedroom door behind her before sitting down against the wooden door. The dog, whose name she still did not know, whined as he paced the room before lying down beside her and nudging her hands nervously. Marty began to gently comb her fingers through the short fur on his face as she whispered sweet nothings in an attempt to keep him nice and calm.

"Marty?" Lukas whispered groggily breaking the silence and surprising her, "Are you okay? Who's that?" he asked as he propped his head off the pillow.

Marty shushed him as she heard something start banging against the glass door in the living room. Shit. The dog let out a low growl that rumbled against her side. Marty was quick to hush him too as she started rubbing his fur pleadingly. "We have to be quiet right now, Lukas. Okay?" she whispered shakily.

The room was so dark. But that didn't stop her from trying to see if there was anything that she could use as a weapon- or, or to block the door. The dresser! Marty practically flew to her feet, ignoring the dog's confused whine, as she reached the dresser. The piece was old and made of real wood--not the cheap fake kind that was lighter--Marty tried to wiggle it away from the wall. Her eyes burned, and she swallowed the lump around her throat. It didn't even budge a little bit. Between the weight of the dresser and the fact that Nick's room was carpeted, she wasn't going to be able to move this thing without help- or at least not before Mr. Dawson managed to get inside.

"Is there a bad man outside?" her brother whimpered, sitting up completely on the bed, making the blankets pool around his knees. The dog stood up from his place against the door to inspect the smaller and more audibly distressed human. "Where'd the doggy come from?" Lukas asked as he offered his hand to the dog, earning sloppy licks before the animal decided to jump up and join him on the bed.