Story Seven

Shit. Shit. Shit. I cannot be late again. Dani thought as she slung one arm through her cashmere sweater. She had already been late once, and her manager made sure to give her a stern warning. Scooping a banana in her left hand and grabbing her car keys in her right, she sloppily laced up her boots and said a quick goodbye to her cat, Evie.

As she stepped out into the stale air, she felt something was off. She wasn’t quite sure what it was, but something about the quietness of the usual bustle of the city startled her.

She hurriedly jabbed her keys into the door lock, opened the door, and was greeted by the fresh pine scent of her air freshener. Turning her keys in the ignition she quickly sped off.

Once she arrived at the coffee shop, she knew she was in trouble. The look she got from her coworkers confirmed it. The swing door opened to reveal her manager, Stacey.

“Look who decided to show up,” Stacey stated.

“I’m not late!” Dani exclaimed as she rushed into the store. “I still have 5 minutes!” She stumbled over the tumbler stand by the entrance.
“Mhm,” Stacey said, side eyeing Dani as she passed by to clock in.
Work being stressful was an understatement for Dani. Her manager made sure to make her shift a living nightmare, assigning extra dishes for Dani, giving her a shorter break, she worked her.
At least work is over, she thought as she pulled into her driveway. I can finally relax.
Opening her front door, she entered the foyer and was met with a deafening silence. Immediately she tensed up.

“Mittens?” She shouted out but was met with silence. Worried she dropped all her belongings in the entryway and searched each room.

Coming across the bathroom, she retracted her foot as the floor had felt damp. Looking down, she saw a puddle of dried blood.

No, she thought. It can’t be.

With trembling hands she reached towards the doorknob and swung the door opened and was met with horror.

Mittens had been strung up on the shower curtain, slain. Scanning the room, she laid eyes on the mirror. Written in blood were the words: You should’ve locked your door, bitch!”