materhowrushedshewas.
Ibackedupalitletotakeoutmyphonetocalmymother. NosoonerhadI puledmyphoneoutthanIheardasoundfrom inside. Atexactlythesame moment, myphonebuzzedandthescreenwentblank, letingmeknowthat myphonehadrunoutofbatery. Isilentlycursedundermybreath. NowI hadnochoicebuttoseewhat, orwho, hadmadethatnoise.
Islowlyenteredmyhouseandquietlypickedupthebasebalbatsetnextto theshoerack. Eventhoughitwasaroundaquarterpastsixandquitedark outside, notasinglelighthadbeenswitchedon. AsItiptoedtowardsthe kitchen, Irealizedjusthoweerilysilentmysuroundingswere. Thiswasnot normalatalsincemybrotherwasalwayshomeduringthistimeoftheday andwasconstantlychateringaway. Suddenly, Iheardacreakofthe floorboardsfrom upstairs.
Withbeadsofperspirationrolingdownmyforeheadandthesidesofmy head, Iclutchedontothebasebalbatfordearlife. AsImademywayup thestairs, therewasnothingIcouldseem todotostopmylegsfrom shaking. WhenIreachedthetopofthestairs, Icrepttowardsmyroom. I slowlyopenedthedoorandwasrelievedtoseethatitwasempty. Iquickly wenttomybedsidetabletoplugmyphoneintocharge.
AsIwasbusytryingtoplugmyphoneinwhichshakingfingers, Ihearda cream rightoutsidemybedroom door. Unfortunately, agaspescapedmy lipsandIswiveledaroundjustintimetoseethreeburlymenentermy room. Everythingwhichhappenednextseem tobeablur. Iswungthebad ashardasIcouldatthefirstmanwhoadvancedtowordsme. Ihearda loud ' THUP ' asthebatconnectedwiththeman ' sbaldhead. Heslumpedto thefloor. Icouldn ' tbelievewhatIhadjustdone. Theothertwomen growledandIrememberedthatIwasstilindanger.
Bothofthem rantowardsme. Consideringhowsmalmyroom was, it didn ' ttakethem morethanafewsecondstoreachme. Iswungthebat blindly, butIwasnotsoluckythistime. Ihadjustmanagedtohitoneofthe men ' sthigh, whentheothergrabbedaholdofmyarmsandtwistedthem behindmyback. Iletoutashriekofpain, butthemanimmediatelycovered mymouth. Theotherstandingmantiedascarfovermymouthtomufle myscreamswhiletheothertiedmyhandsbehindmybackwithsomerope.
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