Chapter 10
The following morning, driven by the previous night's scare, David and Martha systematically inspected every square foot of the interior perimeter. Armed with a hammer, nails, and spare sheets of plywood from the basement, David reinforced the baseboards along the hallway and secured the windows with additional steel brackets. Martha focused on checking the seals around the doors and windows, applying heavy-duty weatherstripping to block out any drafts or potential entry points for pests. Every task was performed with meticulous care, transforming the house into an even more impenetrable stronghold.
"If a mouse can get through, a determined raccoon or something worse could eventually find a way," David noted, wiping sweat from his forehead as he drove another three-inch nail into the floor framing.
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"We leave nothing to chance from now on," Martha agreed, handing him a replacement screw. "The moment we get sloppy is the moment everything falls apart."
Working side by side, they found a quiet rhythm that helped push the underlying dread into the background. Their partnership had evolved into something seamless and essential, a mutual reliance that transcended simple friendship or familial obligation. They understood each other's moods, anticipations, and limits without needing to speak. By midday, the interior fortifications were complete, giving them a renewed sense of security within their enclosed world.
