Chapter 1

This time, as usual, I went out to walk the dog.

After returning, just as I was about to lie down in the bedroom to rest, I thought I heard my dog's thoughts.

"How odd, there seems to be a strange odor in the house."

"It smells bad, like the scent of a stranger."

I remembered the dismemberment case my husband had mentioned to me last night, and it sent shivers down my spine.

I didn't care if I was imagining things; staying safe was my top priority.

Just as I reached for the leash to head out, there was a knock on the door, and I heard my husband's voice.

"Phoebe, open the door."

Recently, I've noticed something unusual about my little dog, Buddy.

He keeps sniffing around the house, as if searching for something.

But besides me and my husband, there's no one else here.

So, I didn't think much of it, assuming Buddy might just be restless because he's entering his mating season.

Today, after our usual walk, I planned to grab some clothes and take a shower to wash off the sweat.

Just as I loosened the leash and was about to open the bedroom door, I heard a very unfamiliar voice.

"Why does it feel like there's a strange smell in the house? It's been here all along, so stinky! Mom, can you get rid of that bad guy?"

I froze, looking around to find the source of the voice.

But in my house, it's just me and my boyfriend.

That wasn't my boyfriend's voice, and he wasn't even home from work yet.

Who could it be?

While I was hesitating, the voice spoke again.

"Why isn't Mom moving? Does Mom think there's a strange smell too?"

Mom?

I looked at my little dog, Buddy, in disbelief.

Could it be him talking?

But how could a dog talk?

I shook my head, wondering if work stress was causing me to hear things.

Standing at the bedroom door, my hands on the doorknob, I hesitated for a long time.

What if, just what if, it was true?