By Joleen Sheldrick  I turned to see what was behind me; just then, the lights went out and back on. “HELP me” appeared on the window. 

By Michael Earnhart I heard the crunch of ice as I reversed my car out of my driveway. As I turned my head forward to drive away, I noticed my dog laying motionless in the driveway.

By Margo Gillis I took in a breath as my bedroom door creaked open, but released it with relief when I heard my cat’s soft paws make their way across the hardwood floors before hopping onto the bed and curling up next to me. Feeling the comfort of my only pet, I closed my eyes and began drifting off to sleep before quickly startling back into consciousness as I heard the door creak open once again, this time followed by significantly heavier paws as they made their way across the room…

By Lauren Reger I always thought my cat was normal. Then I found the hidden stash of teeth it had collected from the neighborhood.

By Lauren Reger At first I thought the scattered pieces on the floor were just more parts to my dog’s giant stuffed toy. Then I turned on the lights, and realized it was pieces from him.

By Manya Montanelli My friend went to my house to pick up something while I was out of town. I live alone, but there was someone in the basement.

By Manya Montanelli A bus driver from a tourist company picked me up at the airport. A few hours later, he forced me inside an abandoned shack in the woods.

By Michelle Gonzalez In my dark room and in a groggy daze I felt for my dog who was lying next to me panting.   I was then woken up from a phone call letting me know my dog was found at a local park. 

By Michelle Gonzalez I woke up from a long nap after my nightshift, hearing my baby cry in his room down the hall.   My cellphone lit up to a text from my husband letting me know that he and the baby were out visiting my parents.  

By Brennon Land “Darling, I wouldn’t have missed our wedding for the world,” he said while brushing a bit of dirt from his lapel.  It might have been more romantic if he hadn’t died three months ago.