How Peculiar

Chapter Two

   The walk home was... uneventful. Tom cast glances behind him every now and again. He could swear someone was behind him. Following him. Their gaze burned into his back, boring into his skull. He whipped around, getting ready to yell at whomever was following him. But no one was there. Uneasiness began to bubble inside him, but he shook it off and kept walking.

   The footsteps continued to echo behind him no matter how many times he turned around and no one was there, when he would walk, they were there. The uneasy feeling spread through his entire body, festering and growing and eating at him. His heart felt like it was going to burst out of his chest and his breathing became uneven. At this point, he had passed his apartment complex, in fear of having whoever was following him know where he lived.

   Then the breathing started. Tom felt it on his neck. He froze and his hair stood on end. Tears began to form. Tom wasn't the strong type. He cried easily. Panic attacks were a constant for him. A jolt of seemingly electricity passed through him. That usually would happen when he was about to have a panic attack. Then a soft voice spoke out to him. A voice that came from inside his head. A voice that was quite familiar to him.

   "Shhh. It's all ok, Tom." The voice cooed, "Turn around. You will see that there is nothing to be frightened of." For some strange reason, Tom trusted the voice. It seemed so familiar, he just couldn't quite place where he had heard it before.

   He slowly turned around and gasped. At his feet, sat the most adorable puppy he had ever seen. "Oh my gosh!" He exclaimed as he bent down to pet the puppy. It was so soft, it's fur a warm ginger and caramel. It's eyes were like pools of melted chocolate. "Where'd you come from?" There was no collar. Tom grinned from ear to ear and picked the puppy up. "How about you come stay with me?" The puppy barked and wagged it's tail. He nodded and skipped home.

   "Ya know, you gave me a real scare." Tom laughed. "I thought you were like some axe murderer or something." The puppy licked his hand and barked. He laughed and opened the door to his apartment complex. Skipping up the stairs joyfully, he arrived at his floor in no time. He walked down the hallway until he found his apartment, then he felt around in his pocket, looking for his key.

   Once he found it, he clutched it in his hand and drew it out of his pocket. He went to insert it into the door then stopped. The door. It was open. A jolt passed through him and the puppy yelped. He patted it's head gently and slowly pushed the door open the rest of the way. The puppy wiggled out of his arms and scurried inside.

   "Wait!" Tom called as he hurried in after it. Everything seemed to be in order. Nothing looked out of place. He let out a nervous laugh. He must have just left the door open when he had left. Yes. That was it. The puppy jumped up onto the couch and curled up. "I'm gonna call you Caramel." Tom decided. Then his phone went off. Taking his phone out of his pocket, he saw that Theodora had texted him.

Texts:

Teodora<3: Tom. Go to your front door. Lock it. Don't open it for anyone or anything. I'm sorry if this frightens you, but you are in danger.

Theodora<3: Once you have locked the front door, go to your bedroom and open the window. Someone will come in to help you.

   Tom felt his pulse quicken. He quickly ran to the front door and locked it. A small sigh of relief escaped from his lips. As he turned around to go to his room, three slow knocks sounded from the door.