Excuse me, can you help me find my dog?

He was tall, dark, and muscular. Handsome, to be sure. She should have listened to her instincts, though. She had seen something—she couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but it seemed carnal, vicious, insensitive, wild. It was there, hiding behind his eyes.

My dog, yes, he’s, um, well, he’s a bit of a small thing. He’s got black fur, and he’s about yay big.

She ignored her inner warning bells. She followed, searching for the dog. They had ventured into the woods, calling out the dog’s name, when she felt a knife come at her neck, from behind. The stainless steel blade felt viciously sharp against her flesh.

If you want to come out of this alive, you’re going to do as I tell you to. If not…

She shuddered, pulling herself into a tight little ball, sitting on the ground. She felt tiny, eaten up by the world, consumed by the small little enclave in which she sat, her dignity drained.

She prayed that the detectives would come soon.