''Is that a dead skunk?''

''The head of a dead skunk,'' he corrects.

''Who would send this?''

''My guess is the people out for your boyfriend's blood, and by extension your blood,'' he answers bluntly. Leaning towards the side, he grabs a paper which I hadn't seen earlier and opens it.

''What does it say?''

His expression goes hard again and he doesn't respond so I grab the paper from his hand. In bold letters, written in red blood ink or actual blood (I'm not entirely sure) are the words: 'YOU ARE NEXT.'

For a minute or two, I'm frozen, white as the sheet of paper I'm holding. The paper is trembling in my hands as I resist the urge to scream. I feel like my life is being sucked out of me with those three words. Whoever is trying to kill me has me on their radar. For fuck sake they know my house address and they could attack me or my family at any time.

''Mel, say something,'' I hear Theo's voice say in my panicked state, but I can't say something because my next words may come out as a choked sob.

I point to the door. ''My sister, Sophie is in there. I need to see if she's alright.'' I whisper. She's always home before I am. Usually, we'd come home together but nowadays, she has taken a liking to getting a ride from Brittany's mum. Brittany's her best friend so I can see why she'd want to ride with them.

If anything happens to her because of my indiscretions, I'd never forgive myself.

''Give me your keys,'' he instructs. Mindlessly, and still in shock, I hand him the keys and he unlocks the apartment. Reaching into his pocket, Theo brings out his gun. ''Step back a bit We don't know who's in here other than your sister.''

I do as he says and he moves forward fully. Turning on the lights I see that nothing is out of place. The living room is still as neat as I left it, the laundry is still folded in the basket near the washing machine and I spot Sophie's school bag on the centre table in the living room.

''Soph, it's Mel,'' I yell. ''Are you home?''

No response.

Theo, gun in hand, moves to the kitchen and I start to panic. I call her cell phone and put it on loudspeaker. I listen intently and hear her ringtone coming from upstairs. ''Sophie!'' I yell again.

''I'm coming, I'm coming,'' I hear her voice say and I visibly relax. She's okay, she's fine. ''Sheesh, you're so loud. I heard you the first time.''

She trudges down the stairs in a black sweater and pattern leggings looking completely confused. ''Mel, are you okay? You're crying.''

Oh.

I wipe the stray tears from my eyes and hug her feeling relieved. My sister is okay. Releasing her, I touch her cheeks, then her forehead, and then her hands. I don't even know what I'm looking for, but I think I'm trying to convince myself that nothing happened to her. ''You're acting strange. What's going on?'' she asks.

''Nothing I-''

''Who's the guy in our house?'' She points to Theo who emerges from the kitchen and stands next to me. Luckily, he had put the gun back in his pocket. God knows I wouldn't be able to explain why a guy who's wearing the same uniform as I am is holding a gun and is in our apartment.

''Soph, this is Theo. He's a friend from school.'' I introduce and he stretches out his hand. Sophie looks at him sceptically, before taking his hand in a firm hold. ''Theo Clayton. Mel, has told me so much about you.''

No, I haven't. You probably read my case file.

''Sophie Jones, although I can't say the same about you. She hasn't mentioned you before.''

I give a small smile and she turns her focus back on me. ''Is he your boyfriend?''

Why do people think he's my boyfriend?

''I don't date.''

''Liar.''

''Believe what you want.''

''Believe what you want,'' she mimicks. ''Anywho, back on topic. Why were you looking all frantic like somebody died?''

I take a quick glance at Theo and plead with him via my eyes to help me because I don't think I can formulate a lie in my state of mind. Luckily, he gets the message. ''Did anyone knock on the door or ring the doorbell?''

''Nope. I didn't hear anything.''

''Are you sure?''

''Yes. Did something happen?''

A death threat happened but I can't tell her that. Instead, I offer her my biggest fake smile. ''Nope, nothing happened.'' I answer quickly. Theo motions that he's going outside and I nod. ''The neighbourhood kids decided to prank us again.''

She groans and stomps her feet. ''What'd they do this time? Ducktape our front door?''

''Yep,'' I respond tightly. ''Luckily, I had it removed.''

''Those kids never learn. If I catch anyone of them, I'm going to report them to their mums.'' she declares.

I'm just glad you're okay.

''I'm going upstairs to do homework.'' Her back turns to me and my stare lingers. I don't even want to think about the possibility of anything bad happening to her. She has already been through enough with Type A Sephiligitis which has no cure. For fucks sake, she spent the majority of her childhood in the hospital with tubes tied to her body like a string. Also, in the midst of it all, she lost a father who should have been there for her, been there to protect her and help her throughout her ordeal.

After he left when I was seven, we stopped going to church. My mum was a very devout Christian thanks to Grandma Maggie, but when shit hit the fan, she lost interest I think. I used to ask her why we were staying at home on Sundays and not going to the local church like the other families, but she said she doesn't believe in God anymore.

Maybe back then it was her depression speaking, but I felt like she was really angry with God because things started to change and it wasn't only the refusal to attend church. I was young, but I was more observant than most people. She stopped praying with Sophie and I, our regular family Bible studies came to a halt and we stopped singing worship songs.

At one point, Grandma Maggie tried to get her to talk to the local pastor so that she'd get some things off her chest but she declined.

I don't know if her feelings are still the same because religion is one thing we don't really discuss in the house, but I still pray, not as often but I do it anyway. I still believe that God is real because if he wasn't, I wouldn't have survived the night of September 7.

''And I wouldn't tell mum a cute guy dropped you home,'' she winks before closing her door.

Smiling a little, I join Theo who is outside, making a phone call. He paces back and forth, running his fingers through his blonde hair. His lips are moving but I can't hear a word he's saying. You know, if Theo was my age, not a cop and I didn't like Jason, I may have actually dated him.

He hangs up and puts the phone in his pocket. ''I made a few phone calls. I called Detective Anderson and Officer Louis and they're on their way. I've taken a few pictures and sent it to them so they'd know what we're dealing with. I've also requested the names of the officers who were on surveillance duty. How did they not see this?' he questions, more to himself than to me.

The box has been placed to the side, no longer blocking the entrance. ''Are you okay?'' he asks. The concern in his tone is warm and comforting, in a sibling sort of way.

''None of this is okay,'' I admit. ''It's not every day you get the decapitated head of a dead skunk as a present,'' I joke, trying to make light of the situation. That earns me a smile from him, but it doesn't reach his hazel eyes.

''You'll be fine. You're my responsibility and I swore to protect you,'' he reassures me, but I'm feeling less than reassured. Once he leaves for the night, what next? For all I know, the killer could be watching me right now and waiting for the right moment to attack.

''I've requested for an extra layer of surveillance and they'd be here when I can't be.'' He says, again trying to reassure me. I try to put on a smile, even a fake one, but I can't.

''Yea,'' I answer, exhausted and deflated.

''We're going to find who's trying to kill you. You have my word.''

Without warning, I hug him, basking in the warmth of his leather jacket. This surprises him, but he nonetheless reciprocates and even pats my back. ''Thank you for everything. Really, I know I say thank you a lot, but thank you.''

I release him and he shows me his pearly whites. ''No problem, kiddo.''

''Don't call me that,'' I groan and he sticks his tongue out. How mature. ''You're like old enough to be my brother, not my dad.''

''It annoys you?''

''Duh.''

''Cool. I'll be using it more often then.''

And just like that, my mood lightens a little bit but I can't shake the unnerving feeling in the pit of my stomach.