Bella barked furiously, as simultaneously, a knock rapped at the front door…

“Shh…” I ran my hand across Bella’s fur to comfort her. “Bella, it’s okay.” I assured her by grabbing my phone and tapping open the app to my doorbell camera. My no-good sister’s face came on the screen. I tapped the microphone as she knocked again, louder this time. “What do you want?” I spoke through my doorbell camera, startling her.

“Jeez, let me in!” She shouted, glancing behind her before adding. “Please.”

“Tell me one good reason.” Even after spending a decade in prison, I don’t understand how my sister still can’t stay out of trouble or maybe I just don’t understand someone like my sister, even if I spend my days analyzing people’s mental states.

Heaving a sigh, I tapped out of the app and pocketed my phone before walking to the door with Bella in my arms. Just as I unlocked the door, a loud thud jolted me several steps backward. Oh no! A sickening feeling began running up my nerves.

“Katie!” I yelled as I twisted to unlock the deadbolt and yanked open the door. “Katie!” I yelled again as I saw the pool of blood accumulating next to her body.

Quickly, I dropped Bella and turned her over before pulling my phone out of my pocket and telling it to call 911. As the ambulance made its way through the narrow streets of my neighborhood, I did my best to perform CPR on my sister, sobbing the whole time, “I’m sorry. I’m sorry…” until my sister finally muttered weakly, “It’s okay.”

Written for Mindlovemisery’s Menagerie Saturday Mix #StoryStarter