Takes shelter behind the car

Some animalistic part of Sabrina's brain thought: shelter.

Where was the nearest, safest shelter?

She'd felt pretty safe hidden behind the parked car just a moment ago.

This passed through her brain in a flash; a moment later she was dashing frantically towards the silent driveway. The car engine was growing louder, getting closer. Her stomach fluttered in fear and anticipation. The rough surface of the road was replaced by the smooth pavement, and then the driveway. The car was parked with the rear facing the house, so Sabrina crouched behind the trunk and pressed her back against the cold metal of the car. The soles of her feet gave a rhythmic dull ache where they'd been slapped against the rough asphalt, and she could feel sweat beginning to drip down her forehead. She tried to steady her breathing.

Sabrina heard the approaching car slow. Suddenly the house next door was lit up brightly as the car pulled in to the neighbouring driveway! Half falling, half rolling, Sabrina dropped to her hands and knees and crawled to the far side of the parked car. She heard the neighbouring car's engine stop. There were two sets of click-thunks as the doors were opened.

"That's strange." A man's voice said. "I could have sworn I saw something moving in front of us."

"Shh!" A woman's voice whispered. "You'll wake up Mr. Graham."

The man whispered back "Well, I think I saw something. Maybe his dog got out? Should I go and check?"

Terror hit Sabrina's gut like an ice shower. Please, please don't come over here to check...

"Oh please," the woman hissed. "If that damned mutt was loose it would be waking up the entire neighbourhood. It might have just been a hare or something."

"Yeah, you're probably right."

Sabrina winced as the two closed their car doors. It seemed very loud. There was a jingle of keys, followed by a cur-unch of keys entering a lock. A moment later their front door closed. Sabrina let out a breath she didn't realise she was holding.

She stayed on her hands and knees until her breathing returned to normal, then with a wince she climbed to her feet. Her bare soles were still complaining from their rough treatment on the asphalt, and now the palms of her hands and her knees were complaining of the same rough treatment on the driveway. Next time, she reasoned, she would keep her shoes on.

She looked up at the moon. She has no idea how much time had passed. She made a mental note to bring her watch next time, too. Maybe it was time to head back?