“Run!” Mom screamed at me.

It came for Mom, as she looked in my direction. As I distracted her, it came. Lightning fast, like a black panther. It happened that fast. The shotgun flew through the air and Mom screamed for me to run back inside the house. But I froze and watched that thing pick Mom up with three arms and throw her over its back.

It turned and loped off, like a gazelle or deer. Its pinchers sank into the yard as it went, easily carrying Mom past the open-mouthed Mr. Abernathy. Mom disappeared into the darkness and her screams faded. Mrs. Askew next door began to wail. Her howls of misery filled the night. And, in the distance, a police siren sounded, coming closer and closer.

But Mom was gone.