Chapter 3 — Following the Prints Across the Room
Benjamin stood up from the hardwood floor and adjusted his posture.
He looked down at the dark, heavy tracks cutting across the polished wood.
Rachel stood a few feet away, her arms folded tightly across her chest.
She stared at the trail of dirt with narrowed eyes.
Benjamin began to walk slowly along the trajectory of the muddy footprints.
He kept his gaze fixed directly on the floorboards.
The prints did not curve toward the kitchen or the front entryway.
They bypassed the main hallway entirely.
Instead, the trail headed straight toward the back of the house.
Each dark splotch was spaced evenly apart.
The sheer size of the paw shapes became more distinct under the overhead light.
Rachel followed a step behind him, keeping silent.
Chloe remained on the rug in the distance, still clutching her teddy bear against her pink pajamas.
Benjamin took another few steps toward the rear living room wall.
The hardwood planks creaked softly beneath his socks.
The muddy trail led directly to the base of the large glass patio doors.
A faint, scraping sound suddenly scratched against the glass near the bottom frame.
Benjamin stopped walking and stared at the dark window pane.