<img src="http://www.debbimack.com/dmack/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Dark-Stormy-House2.jpg">
It's a dark and stormy night, rain is pouring.
Lightning rips through the black sky and thunder booms!
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Inside the house, it's warm and dry.
Too bad you're locked outside.
<img src="http://www.debbimack.com/dmack/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/regretful.jpg">
The wind whips the trees all around you, and the downpour drenches you to the skin.
So you run quick as a flash [[to the front door ...]]But it's locked! Could have sworn you unlocked it before you left.
You need to call the fire department or a locksmith or someone. So you [[reach for your cell phone ...]]You quickly circle the house, checking windows and doors as you go. All locked!
You think about walking versus breaking a window. Then you spy a possible open basement window you almost missed.
So you [[go to investigate this ...]]You stretch your leg as far as you can to [[reach the window]] and ...And it isn't there! You left it inside with your keys!
Why isn't your cell phone with you at all times? For shame. You could be Instagramming your plight right now.
Oh, well.
So, you have three choices. [[Circle the house looking for a way in]], at risk of being struck by lightning, or ...
Climb onto the porch roof, make your way to the open window on the side of the house (where there is no overhang) and [[climb through it]], at risk of being struck by lightning, or ...
Walk 10 miles in the pouring rain [[to the nearest house]], at risk of being struck by lighting ...And voila! It's an open window you missed.
So you push the window even farther open and crawl inside, feet-first.
You land on a heap of old clothes you've been meaning to give to Goodwill. At least, that's what it feels like. The basement is pitch black.
EXCEPT for the teeny little crack of flickering light coming from under the door at the top of the stairs. Is that a candle you left burning? When did you light a candle? Oh, well ...
So you make your way slowly through the dark to the tongues of illumination emanating from under the door.
You grab the door knob, [[open the door ...]]And you're confronted by a burglar who snuck into your house while you weren't looking.
And he's got a GUN!
You hustle right back outside. You're so freaked out you forget to grab your keys or your cell phone.
Once outside, you run straight into the woods, [[where you find]] ...You're walking, huh? It's the best form of exercise. So what if it's raining? You're already soaked to the bone.
You march resolutely down the road. A set of headlights sweep into view.
Do you decide to [[hitch-hike]] or [[keep walking]]?Come back for the next installment to find out what happens next! :)
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To be continued! :)Your foot snags the lip of the sill. You reach toward the rain gutter [[with one hand ...]]You grab the gutter!
Now, just slide carefully [[toward the window ...]]Ack! Your foot slips and you fall to the muddy ground with a soggy thunk!
You move your leg. Ouch! You may have broken it!
Want [[a do-over]]? :)Here are your choices now. [[Circle the house looking for a way in]], at risk of being struck by lightning, or ...
Walk 10 miles in the pouring rain [[to the nearest house]], at risk of being struck by lighting ...You stick your thumb out and the car pulls over a few hundred feet ahead of you!
As you hurry toward the vehicle, the passenger door flies open.
You hurl yourself inside, dripping.
"Sorry about the mess," you say.
The driver, a man with a hat pulled low over his eyes, says nothing. He does reach behind the seat and toss you a dirty towel.
You start to wonder about this decision. The car starts moving and you [[jump back out]] or [[close the door]] ...?
You don't accept rides from strangers. Besides the walk isn't that bad, right?
But wait! The driver must have noticed you, because he or she just pulled over.
You hang back. You're still not getting into a stranger's car.
A man jumps out from the driver's side and runs straight for you!
You run, headlong, into the woods. After a 30 seconds of being slapped with wet brush and tree branches, you stop and listen.
No sound of pursuit. But, in the dark, you can just make out [[the sight of]] ...You bail! The car halts and the driver jumps out.
You don't wait to see what he's doing. You run straight for the woods, [[where you find]] ...You shut the door. Really, who are you to judge? The guy could be a mute.
However, as the strange man with eyes nearly hidden under a low-slung hat, drives, he proves himself anything but mute with the creepy things he mutters.
When he slows for a stop sign, you bail!
Where are you? You could go back to the house, but then what?
The man exits the car. Time to boogie! Into the woods you run, [[where you find]] ...Come back for the next installment to learn what you found! :)
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To be continued! :)