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there was seemed to be gleaming off its wet, black skin. |
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This is them, all right, she thought. One of the three had been shirtless when she'd watched through the window and seen them ride away. |
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Keep moving, she willed him. Don't look over this way. Just keep your eyes on Buddy. |
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The third crawled into view. |
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Denise held her breath. She waited. The feet of the second intruder vanished behind the sofa. Number three was out in the open. Then the sofa blocked her view of his head. |
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She leaped up, took four quick strides across the carpet, saw the kid look back over his shoulder. 'Shit!' he cried out. She rammed the knife down. It sank into his back. 'No!' he squealed. 'Guys!' |
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She jerked out the knife and stabbed him again. This time, it struck something hard. The kid, shrieking, flopped flat. Denise tugged at the knife. It didn't come out. Her hand slipped off it. The blade must've gone into bone. |
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The other two guys were scurrying up, coming for her. |
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'Gotcha gotcha gotcha,' gasped the kid duck-walking toward her. |
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She leaped sideways, twisting in the air as she dived over the back of the sofa. Something stabbed her hip, tore skin and ripped the side of her pants. She landed on the cushions, face up. |
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