Sneaking out was a lot easier than I had anticipated. Mabel, it would seem, slept like a frozen rock in winter. I crept down the stairs and through the house to the front door, where I slipped on my boots and slid outside. With barely a click, I shut the door behind me and stepped away from the house.

Thankfully the night was clear, though cold, and the moon was bright enough that I could see without tripping over my feet. I walked in the shadows of the buildings with hopes that if anyone here was actually awake, they wouldn’t see me and inform my aunt. It wasn’t until I was on the outskirts of town that I realized what a stupid plan this was. What if someone saw me and thought I was a criminal. I wanted to smack my forehead. I decided that as soon as I got past this house, I would walk in the centre of the street. It might be a little less suspicious that way, or so I hope.

So I did just that… but didn’t get that far. I was only two steps away from the side of the house when I was tackled from the side and brought to the ground. I landed with a loud thud and felt something in my hand snap. Immediately pain went shooting up my arm and tears formed in my eyes. I’d never broken anything before, and I can’t say I ever wanted to again.

There was also a rather large person on top of me. I peered up at the person in an attempt to see who it was, but managed to see very little other than the outline of a rather large nose and a big bush of hair.

“Oh shit!” came a low voice...