Intruder and Warning

Walking to his home, Jaxon felt an odd sensation on his back. Like someone was watching him. When he glanced around all he saw was a barn owl. Something that he hadn't ever see before. Then paused in the middle of the sidewalk as he stared at the bird.

Owls like that weren't common where he lived. Why was there one so nearby for?

Part of him wondered if it was a pet or something like that. Which wasn't great but, made more sense in his mind. Looking at the bird, he muttered,"Geez. Whoever owns you isn't good at keeping you safe, huh?"

"Go home, silly bird. Go home.",he mumbled. Turning back towards his home to walk with a tiny frown. Thinking of posting something about this on Facebook. Figuring someone could figure what to do. Or figure what Jaxon should do. And put seeing the owl to the back of his mind. When he got to his front step, he noticed the door was slightly ajar. He knew that he shut the door when he left for work. That he locked the door too. As he double checked it before he walked to work. This knowledge made his stomach twist as he got his phone out. Quietly pushing the door open as he stepped into his house. Listening intently as he dialed '9-1-1' and glancing around his house. Soon as he got a hold of the police, Jaxon said,"I think someone's broken into my house. And I'm not sure that they're gone."

The operator told him to go to a neighbor's place. And part of him wanted to stay to check the damage. Check if he was right or not. Then realized just how dumb that was and slipped out of his house as quietly as he entered it. Heading to his neighbor Walter's place. Feeling grateful that he was home at all. Telling his older neighbor what was going on. Soon as he finished, his neighbor ushered him in and locked the door behind him. Both carefully watching the young man's home. And what they saw chilled them to the bone.

A strange man was walking out of Jaxon's home. This man was scrawny, taller than Jaxon but not that tall, and wore very baggy clothes. Neither of the men recognized him but, that's not what had terrified them. What had scared them was the large sharp object in the man's hand. One that Walter had recognized as a camping machete. Neither knew what to say as they peeked through the curtains. Unsure of what else they should be doing. Quietly, Walter informed,"I hadn't heard this guy break into your house."

"I didn't even see anyone approach your house today...",he trailed off. That wasn't good. How did this strange skinny man break into his home? It made his blood run cold as he tried to think of how or why. Why would he want to break in? And just what had he in mind for Jaxon? Right now, he tried to ignore these thoughts as he waited for the cops. Which wasn't a long wait as a few minutes later, he heard sirens. Saw that the strange man had also heard the sirens. Then bolted as fast as his skinny legs could carry him. Unfortunately he managed to avoid being there when the police finally arrived.

The police hadn't saw the man when they pulled up. There was something deep in Jaxon's mind felt that they wouldn't ever find him. But, he still told them all that he knew. As did his elderly neighbor, Walter. Which wasn't much, unfortunately. And it irritated the cops to no end that they didn't know. Still, the men took their statements. Took pictures of the crime scene then left. Soon as they did, Walter insisted that Jaxon stay at his place for the night. Just in case the strange man would come back. Jaxon couldn't help but agree with what his neighbor wanted. Fearing the same thing and hurriedly went upstairs to get some clothes. Getting his toothbrush, deodorant, and other toiletries from his bedroom bathroom. Halfway out of his bathroom and into his bedroom, he spotted something. A piece of paper on his bed that hadn't been there that morning. Carefully, Jaxon picked it up from his bed and held it up to read it. Eyes widening in horror as all that was written on it was,'I'll be back soon.'