I looked up from my book, glancing at the patio sliding doors as if I could pierce the darkness on the other side of the glass from across the room.
"Oh, what now," I muttered as I tossed the book I was reading on the coffee table, swinging my legs down from the arm of my comfy chair.
The evening was cool, refreshing after the heat of the last few days, so I had the windows open enjoying the slight breeze. Sitting quietly a moment I waited to see if I was going to hear the noise again, growling at the slight clinking sound outside.
"If it's that stupid racoon again," I stood, going to the kitchen to grab a flashlight from the junk drawer. Coming around the counter, the sliding door was closed, my reflection blocking any view looking out. I paused a moment to put some slides on my bare feet, brushing imagined lint from my legs. I smirked at the wobble in my top, not like anyone was going to notice me wandering around in the dark braless, or care if they did.
Sliding the door open, I flicked on the outside light hoping it would scare off whatever was running around. The air was cooler on my bare legs and arms but still felt nice as I carefully but noisily made my way down the stairs.
"Hey, get out of here!" I said loudly, trying to run whatever it was off before having to actually deal with it. Another sound had me taking a wide corner across the lawn to shine the light along the back edge of the shed.
"Go on, scoot," I said loudly at the dark shape I saw hunched over. Looking closer I thought I saw a movement and pointed the light while stepping closer.
My eyes widened in shock as the figure came into view. Whatever it was it wasn't a racoon! Probably mid-belly in height to me, it was wearing clothing that faded into the dark even with my light directly shining on it, its head covered in the same material. It looked at me a heart-beat before making some sounds.
"What the hell!" I cried out, stepping back. I felt my heart clench in my chest in shock, my slides losing their grip on the damp grass leaving me falling on my ass.
I swung back with the light, catching the thing moving around the edge of the shed before I started scrambling back, trying to get to my feet. A slide fell off, my bare foot slipping leaving me falling flat hard enough to knock the breath from me and dropping the flashlight.
Pushing manically to my feet I raced for the stairs, hearing more noise coming up behind me. Something struck the grass beside me wetly before I stepped on a rock stabbing into my foot.
"Ow!" I yelled, striking my shoulder on the wooden rail painfully. Grabbing the railing, hopping on my good foot I reached the patio before I felt something slap my leg, pulling my ankle from under me. Looking back, I saw another figure pulling the cord wrapped around my ankle.
"Help!" I yelled although it came out barely a hoarse whisper as I struggled to catch my breath. I pulled with my leg, yanking the smaller being forward as I scrambled for the door, my nails scraping for a grip. Get my phone! The thought filled my mind, get my phone, call for help!