Un2talented (Book 3 of the Un2 Series)

The set of eyes narrowed as they glided toward the doorway. The silhouette of something distinctly canine formed as the filtered light from the kitchen illuminated the fringed edges of the creature. Its muscles tensed, and then it lurched forward.

Cadence flung the door closed and quickly threw all her weight against it, making sure it latched securely. She bounced from the surface of the door as the beast collided with the other side.

“Well, now we know why this was shoved through the handle!”

Mike slid the utensil back through the latch.

“What do you think that is? Cadence gasped.

A muffled howl came from within the freezer.

“Sounds like a werewolf!”

“Really? A werewolf?” Mike raised a doubtful eyebrow.

“Okay, then a wolf or something.”

Cadence put her ear to the door. It was momentarily silent, followed by a faint scratching noise emanating from near the bottom of the door. Not the frantic thrashing of a trapped animal, but the pawing of a dog wanting to be let out. The beast whimpered. Cadence slid down the door a listened again. There was another whimper. She looked up at Mike.

“You ain’t thinkin’ about letting that thing out?” he balked.

Another whimper beckoned from inside the freezer.

“Mikey, we can’t leave the poor thing in there. It will freeze to death.” Cadence pleaded.

“Better it freezing to death than us being mauled to death! Just leave the damn . . . whatever it is . . . in the freakin’ freezer!”

“Whatever it is, is a living, breathing being and I’m going to let it out of the freezer. You can either stay here with me or get out of the kitchen. What’s it going to be?”

Mikey scowled and stared at the door standing between them and potential mutilation.

“You’ve seen horror movies, right? This is the part where the beautiful girl and the older, slightly overweight but still decent-looking guy are about to open a door, that, by the way, someone has locked shut for apparently a damn good reason, and you’re sitting there on your couch screaming, ‘What the friggin’ hell do you think you’re doing? Get your ass out of there!’”

Cadence stood her ground. She nodded at the door.

“You can’t be serious!”

“I’m serious. I’m going to open the door, Mike.”

“Nope. No friggin’ way.”

Mike turned and walked out of the kitchen, letting the screen door slam behind him.

Cadence was not deterred. She jabbed at the end of the spoon with her finger until it popped free from the latch. She paused momentarily and took a deep breath. She adjusted her grip on the handle.

“I can’t believe you didn’t follow me!” Mike shouted through the screen door. He re-entered the kitchen and grabbed one of the stools as he walked over to Cadence. He held it in front of him as if he were a lion tamer.

“If that thing killed you, I could never forgive myself,” Mike muttered.

“Oh, it wouldn’t,” Cadence replied.

“How can you be so sure?”

“The pretty girl never dies first,” she winked.

Before Mikey could react, she flung the door open. Mikey braced himself for the onslaught of gnashing teeth. A great beast covered in thick obsidian fur belly-crawled to Cadence’s feet and looked up at her with its golden soulful eyes. She bent to greet the hound, slowly running her fingers across its forehead and between its ears. Its tail swayed from side to side.

“That has to be the biggest, blackest shepherd I’ve ever seen!” Mike lowered the stool.

“I wonder who would do such a thing. He’s such a sweetheart!” Cadence knelt beside the dog and ran her hand along the length of its spine. Its tail wagged more vigorously. It flipped onto its back, exposing its belly. Cadence gave it a couple of circular swipes causing the dog to purr like a kitten.

“Gary. . .”

A weakened voice called from within the freezer. The shepherd scrambled to its feet and darted back into the darkness. It bounded back into the light, barked as if to say, “Come quickly, Timmy has fallen down the well!” and disappeared back into the shadows.