When The Stranger Came

One night, in a small, rural town in upstate New York, fifteen-year-old Dylan Hellenbrand, who is home alone, hears the doorbell ring. Upon inspecting the peephole, the wary teenager decides not to answer. The guy standing on the porch is wearing a dark jacket with a hood. Something about the mysterious, unexpected visitor doesn’t feel right.

A minute later, as Dylan tries to pretend that no one is home, he hears, in the backyard, his German shepherd Murray barking and growling fiercely. Then, to the adolescent’s horror, he hears the sound of a loud boom, reminiscent of a firecracker exploding. Suddenly, the dog squeals like a stuck pig.

Oh no! What just happened? What was Dylan suppose to do now?

Hide!

Yes. Hide. That was about all he could do. Especially since Dylan had forgotten to lock the back door.