Using the flashlight on her phone, she moved quickly through the living room, lighting a few candles and placing them on end tables. The wind howled louder now, and rain began to tap at the windows. She sat down, opened the dialer, and tried calling for the police for help.
No signal. She stared at the screen, then moved to another corner of the room. Still nothing—no bars, no connection. Her heart sank. No power, no service, and a dog stuck outside just as the storm was rolling in. She sat still, torn between fear and guilt.