As I heard my weighted feet crunch against the dry autumn leaves I crossed the massive backyard, making sure I stayed in the house's shadow constantly. Looking around the yard as I silently inched along, the thought struck me that it looked almost like a midnight terror carnival. The rusted swing set basking strangely in the full moon's glow and the eerie silver grass almost made my mind transport itself into a Wes Craven novel. The thought of It alone was enough to make me shudder uncomfortably.

Jerking my head I shook myself from the terrorized image my mind had made. Keep on task old man, just get this done and it'll all be over. The thought of a peaceful retirement softened my mood, and I made it to the rain gutter on the side of the house. Taking another deep breath I grasped the cold pipe in my abled hands and shimmied slowly to the roof of the porch. My breathing was slightly heavier as I alighted on the roof tiles. Not near in the shape I was ten years ago I thought with a frown, crouching low so I wouldn't be visible through the window on my side. As I made my way to the second window above the shadowed porch I saw a soft glow coming from it. It was the girl's room. Curiosity took over my mind, and I wondered what in God's name it could have been. It certainly wasn't on when I was scoping her room from the front of the house. I reached the outcropping of the window and peeked cautiously into the room, tense as a bow string.

My breathing returned to normal and I quietly laughed at myself for letting paranoia get to me. It was only her TV. Pushing the cracked window so it wouldn't make a sound I peered around the room to make sure the coast was clear.

As soon as I had one foot in her room I heard the piercing growl of a dog.

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