Never Tell. Claire Seeber

nearby the clank of metal on metal startled me. My own involuntary gasp made me laugh.

      ‘Rose?’

      ‘I’ll call you back.’ I hung up.

      ‘Hello?’ I called. Someone had been listening, I was sure.

      Silence fell again; just the fluting of birdsong, and then the distant bleat of tiny lambs. It was an eerie sound; rather like my children crying. I took a few small steps towards an old cream-coloured racing car abandoned on blocks. Alongside the garage wall were stacked great canisters; presumably for petrol.

      ‘Hello?’ I steadied my voice. ‘Anyone there?’

      There was no response. A sudden gust blew through the branches like a great breath as I took another step and then the light from the window struck me again, flashing across my face so I had to shut my eyes. Not a light I realised, some kind of red laser. It swept the ground before me and then disappeared.