Jeremy moved slowly around his bedroom, fluffing his pillows and savoring the rare luxury of getting into bed early in the evening. With a snowstorm fast approaching, the old man was content to hunker down and sleep through it all, safe and warm.
Just as he was about to settle into his freshly made bed, he took one last look outside his window and noticed something hiding in the bushes. Shrugging it away as a squirrel or a rodent taking shelter from the cold, he made his way towards the bed when the doorbell rang, startling him.
Opening the door, he found his young neighbor, her face pale and anxious. “Mr. Rogers, there’s an animal in your backyard. It must be freezing,” the sweet girl said, her voice tinged with urgency. Jeremy thanked her and went to check on the animal. But as he drew closer, his steps faltered and his face went pale; there was something chilling hidden underneath the creature’s belly.