THE WICKED SMILE

A typical day for Denise: after her office, she opened her mobile to check the daily agenda to perform. It was grocery day, so she decided to go to the nearest Walmart to get some utilities. She got a shopping cart and started adding the basic stuff, moving through sections, and checking the list. Suddenly, she lifted her head and noticed a strangely familiar person pass by her. She recognized him. Yes, he was the creepy old neighbor. She agonized over the memory of him constantly staring at her in the lift in the morning, and now she saw him in the mart . She saw him going into the section of tools. Curiously, she peeped through the racks, unable to see, she thought. ''Oh, my God! He is such a weird guy. Something is definitely alarming about this guy”, her sixth sense sends a signal. She stumbles, remembers about the groceries, and continues ignoring him. She moves around and continues her shopping. Finally, she completes her list and proceeds to the counter. At the counter, she saw him; he was far ahead in line, billing, looking hurried, and he left immediately. She waits for her turn. About fifteen minutes later, it was finally her turn to pay the cashier, putting her stuff in her bag. She notices the slip lying at the side; it wasn’t hers; it belonged to Mr. Anderson, the neighbor, out of curiosity. She read the receipt, which was listed as: duct tape, a hammer, and some nails. She thought to herself that the poor man had broken some of his furniture. "Poor, clumsy soul," she thought to herself. She threw the slip in the waste bin. Then she started walking to her favorite coffee shop to get herself a coffee and a donut; after all, she wanted a treat for the hectic day. drinking coffee, she was slowly moving towards the apartment, thinking about the workload this month. She was eagerly waiting for the weekend to come so she might get some much-needed rest. Admist all this, she reaches her building. She entered the elevator, pressing the floor 4 button, and 'DING' she had reached her floor. She gets off the elevator and moves towards her apartment. She carefully placed the bags of groceries down. Too exhausted, she opened her bag to find keys. After finding the keys, she pushed them into the keyhole, but when she pushed the door, it was open. Fear flushed all over her ….”How is this possible? My apartment was opeennn?'. She reaches for her Tasergun in her bag; there was a possible intruder in her house, so going without any possible self-defense gadget is probably the worst possible option to consider, right? now She enters the hallway, which is completely quiet. She cautiously moves forward with one hand gripping the tasor while dailing 911 from the other. Suddenly, her shoe stepped into a puddle-like thing. She looked at it carefully. She saw blood pool on the floor, chills went through her spine, and she proceeded towards the most possible crime scene and saw bolt laying motionless, her German shepherd who was tied with a rope, nails smashed in the face. She frantically ran towards him, eyes full of tears. bolt had a pulse; she was relieved, but then suddenly saw a note with a nail on him: ‘NOW HE WONT BOTHER ANYMORE’. She was astonished that someone could brutally harm her dog, and then, in a flash, she remembered that last week Bolt was continuously barking in the neighborhood whenever she took him outside for a walk. One day, he ripped apart the old man's shopper. Apologetically, she said to the man next door, 'I am sorry. He won’t bother you next time; I will take care'. He nodded with a wicked smile as she patted the bolt. Now she understands the receipt lying there.