The barking hadn’t stopped. If anything, it had grown more frantic—each burst echoing louder under the crack of nearby thunder. The dog must be terrified. Maya turned toward the window again, watching it twist and strain against the harness. Her hands trembled in her lap. She couldn’t just watch.
She exhaled shakily, then stood. “Alright,” she whispered to herself. Her legs weren’t as steady as they once were, but she walked to the door, unlatched it, and stepped outside, steeling her nerves. The air was heavy and still, with the scent of electricity already curling in the breeze.