I almost slipped and fell at least three times in the short distance between the front door and my Civic parked in the driveway which had become a skating rink of ice covered in a light dust of fresh snow, but made it. I unlocked my door in a horrified panic and dove into the soft interior while locking it right back up at the same time.

I should have seen it coming. I should have known it even before I twisted those keys in the ignition and the engine didn’t start. Of course, my car wouldn’t start in that situation. Of course I had left the dome light on earlier in the day when I was moving stuff in and out of the car. Of course I was stuck in that little box of a dead car with the storm pounding the frozen-over windows with more fresh snow. Of course whoever was stalking me inside the house in the dark could arrive at the car at any moment.

A stiff gust of wind shook the car and I swore I felt the frigid air of the stormy winter night seep into the car just a little bit more. I initially thought I could just wait it out in my little compact sedan of a tent, but I had only been in there for about a minute and a half when I started to get the chills and started to feel my body convulse in a shiver.