Laura whispered. He turned over and looked at the dark ceiling, searching the room in a daze. It was early in the evening; the sun was just beginning to go down and low light still broke the edge of the curtains. Katy was sleeping soundly at the foot of the bed. Jacob closed his eyes tightly then opened them again, blinking until his vision cleared. He looked at Laura lying next to him. “What is it?” he asked, still groggy. “Someone is—” she began as a cracking of wood sounded from somewhere outside behind their house. Jacob froze and put his hand to her lips. He rolled out of the bed and placed his feet on the floor as his right hand searched the nightstand for his pistol. He felt its cool frame and gripped it tight. There was another bang and a thump from somewhere outside. He got up, crept around the foot of the bed, and walked to the bathroom window. He slowly pulled back the cardboard and looked into the yard. Two crouched figures were next to the plank wood fence that separated his yard from his neighbors.
