The thud came again

go clicked the television on mute, line her ear against the storm that splattered the roof with a mixture of precipitate and hail.The soft thump came from the wine root cellar, as though someone, or something, had whacked a prevail to the floor. Rose gripped the arms of the chair and cursed her husband for leaving her all on a night like this, knowing she was fearful of storms, blank houses and prowlers, however imaginary they might be. Shed already lit every lamp and overhead light in the house, but they failed to dispel the damp, dreary feeling of threatening doom.Rose was a bit too over protective astir(predicate) things, she wouldnt full stop outside for to a greater extent than 10 minutes, because of the d ireous sunrays. Her husband open had nagged her about getting a hang back to keep her comp all on the nights he nominateed late, but she wouldnt put on anything to do with a dog. What if the dog got rage and went mad while she was alone with him? Her small d elicate frame would be no match for a snarling animal who would shred her to pieces with its gnashing teeth.The television cover song flickered in muted silence as it ran the news story again, warn the public about the man with the injure. Hed been fooling the law of nature for weeks, leaving do-nothing no clues or reasoning to his appetite for slaughtering woman who were home alone. merely Rose knew where the man was. He was in her basement skulking virtually in the dark with the butcher knife between his teeth.She reached for the phone, preparing to summon the police again, but shuddered at the arrogance during their previous visit less than an arcminute ago. While searching room to room the killicers exchanged glances, as if meet a womans imagination was a waste of their precious time.Its Rose Campbell again, she say weakly into the phone. Despite her attempts to sound rational her share quivered like a woman on the verge of insanity. You must saddle someone right o ut. Hes in my homeI know he is.Lightning filled the night sky and Rose pulled the receiver away from her ear, fearful of being in love done the mouthpiece. Shed read somewhere about an elderly woman laid low(p) by lightning as it travelled through the phone wires and burned her to smithereens. She got more nervous as she thought of it.Mrs. Campbell, the officer sighed, our officers have already look into your home from top to bottom and found nothing, why dont you make yourself a nice cup of tea andCup of tea? Rose shouted as a clap of thunder hit the house. I dont indispensability a cup of tea there is a man in my house I can experience him in the cellar, dont you understand?It shortly occurred to Rose that the intruder might hear her, race up the basement stairs, knife clenched in his fist, and put a quick slicing-end to her visit for help. She lowered her voice to a panicked whisper and listened for footsteps on the cellar stairs.Maybe he wasnt in the basement when the o fficers checked, she whispered, or maybe he was hiding behind the boiler maybe or came in through a window after they left.Rose envisioned the office turn his eyes like the others had done. Okay, Mrs. Campbell, he express in a defeat voice, Ill send someone out as soon as I can.But when will that be? she demanded, refusing to be treated like a mad woman while a maniac moved easy just one story below.Im not sure, his voice had the tone of impatience. Lots of problems payable to the storm. We are all pretty busy. Maybe you could call a populate? Someone to sit with you till we arrive?Sir, I dont need a baby-sitter I need you to bang and arrest this slayer at that place was a long pause followed by a sigh. Okay Mrs. Campbell. Ill send someone right over.Rose replaced the phone in its cradle, this was her lifeline, and trembled at the conceit of the house. The roar of the storm scared her, a blanket of loneliness shut in her, tickling the hairs on the back of her neck.A jolt of lightning crackled nearby, its brilliance exploding the pace beyond the window. The lights flickered, plunging her into darkness and Rose dug her nails into the fabric of the chair. The lights fluttered, fighting to stay alight as the storm roared directly overhead. The lights remained at half strength, their blue yellow light casting deep shadows in the corners.The phone echoed loudly in the stillness, giving her the fright of her life. She lunged for it her grip was tight on the receiver. Rose? Rose, are you there? Her husbands voice came wonderfully through the earpiece. Yes, Rose said through her dry mouth. Jimmy, please come home right away.Whats impose on _or_ oppress Rosie?Hes in the house, Jimmy a man with a knife is in the cellar. The police wont do anything about it. She kept her voice low to observe anyone but Jimmy from hearing her.There was a silence at his end and Rose didnt like the sound of it. She saw her husbands mind working, preparing to hear the same old speech about her imagination running away with her.Now rose he began.Dont Rose me Her voice shook with anger and panic.But Rose weve been through this time and time again, Jimmy said, his voice with patience. You get yourself all worked up for nothing, scaring yourself half to death. I have to work late sometimes. You know that. Why dont you let me get you a dog to keep you company.What good is a dead dog when theres a killer in the house?Okay Rosie, okay. Maybe I can knock off a little early tonight, but were going to have a talk about this.The lights were burning with less strength than out front and Rose felt the shadows creeping in on her. She pushed her shaking be from the chair and tiptoed into the kitchen, relieved that Jimmy would be home soon. She hadnt heard any more thuds from the basement. Had she imagined them? She did have an active imagination.Creeping past the closed cellar door Rose opened a kitchen drawer, removed a disaster of waxed candles and pushed two of them into their candlestick holders. A match lit and hard life to the wicks. She decided to have a cup of tea and sterilise the kettle on the stove.It came from behind her, on the other side of the cellar door, and Rose spun around, her heart quickening with each beat. She stumbled backwards and pressed against the kitchen counter, neer taking her eyes from the door honcho. The cellar door was closed, but not tight, and something was push it outwards, revealing two fiery lights twinkling in the darkness.Rose clamped a hand over her mouth, fearful that a scream, however quiet, would squeeze the die hard bit of breathable air from her lungs. Spinning towards the counter she ran her hands across its excavate searching for anything she might use as a weapon. Nothing. She pulled at the knob on the silverware drawer and sent the contents crashing to the floor. Fumbling through the volume Rose felt the carving knife handle and clenched it intemperately in her fist.Thunder and hail rocked the frame of the house as other bolt of lightning crackled over her head, illuminating the kitchen just as the cellar door burst open. The creature with the bright eyes stood at opening, it stared at.Rose halted and squinted at the creature, its tail wagging side to side.Youre are cat she shouted, her veins pounding with blood. She tossed the carving knife to the floor. Its just a stupid little cat. Her laughter eased her dire state, soothing her petrified nerves.The short-hared cat licked its paws. Just a cat, Rose whispered again as kneeled by its side and stroked its fur with her trembling hand. Where did you come from, You scared me half to death. Arching its back it rubbed against Roses thigh. You must be thirsty(p)? How about a bowl of milk? She rose to her feet and opened the electric refrigerator door.Just a cat indeed, the man whispered from the shadows of the cellar. Candlelight glinted off the butcher knife in his fist.