unfolded the paper and smoothed it against her chest. She expected to see a well-assembled love poem surrounded in pretty pink hearts, but what she got instead was something quite on the contrary. Seven single words were scrawled on the paper; each letter seemed to be in different handwriting. The air was sucked out of her as she read the single sentence that filled the paper:

I kNow What you Did last winter

Ambyr stared at the note, confused. I know what you did last winter...? Is this some kind of joke? She dropped the note to the ground, gravely disappointed. She read it to herself over and over again; trying to find some clue to where this note may’ve come from, but the only name on that slip of paper...was hers. She looked at the letter from all possible angles, but the seven mysterious words revealed nothing of their origin.

I know what you did last winter...

I know what you did last winter...

I know what you did last winter...

What could this possibly mean?

Nothing. That’s what it means...nothing. Who would write me this load of garbage anyway? I mean...Blitz and Haywire aren’t THAT stupid...or are they? She silently scolded herself for thinking such things about her friends. Of course it isn’t them...those two may not be the smartest dogs on the planet....but they’re certainly one of the loyalest. They wouldn’t want to hurt me.

Ambyr shook her head. Despite the threat she just got, she had to laugh to herself. What a bunch of nut jobs. She had to admit...this joke was kind of funny...but not all that much. She watched as the slip of paper was flung out of her sight by a gust of wind. She watch happily as it fluttered away, but her thoughts were once again interrupted by a noise behind her. But it wasn’t anyone calling her name. Instead, it was a ruffling sound; like someone was wriggling their way to keep out of sight. The sound came from a wall of trashcans behind her.

The shuffling noise happened again.

“Who’s there?” Ambyr asked loudly.

The shuffling stopped...if was followed by an eerie silence.

“Show yourself!!”” Ambyr said.

Suddenly, the wall of trashcans toppled over all at once, as if some invisible hand knocked them out of place.

Ambyr flinched and she couldn’t help it as a light scream escaped her throat.

A layer of garbage littered the floor. Ambyr squinted to see who might’ve knocked them over, but the alley way suddenly seemed to dim in light, and she couldn’t see anything. But through the darkness, she could faintly make out a shadow, almost wolfish, quickly slither away, out of sight. Ambyr gasped.

Suddenly realizing she didn’t want to stick around any longer to find out who it was, Ambyr quickly turned around and darted out of the alleyway. She didn’t stop until she had put good distance between her and the place where she opened the letter.

Meanwhile, a group of alley cats stood smiling to themselves with pride. They looked down with satisfaction at the mess of garbage they had just been told to cause. A pure black cat turned around, and slapped her paw with a paw from another cat. “Score one for the kitties,” she said with a grin. “Phase Two, complete.”

Ambyr needed time to recuperate her thinking, as well as her breath. She obliviously spent hours that day, pacing and thinking to herself of any things she might’ve done to receive such a threatening notice.

Get a grip on yourself, Ambyr!! No one wants you dead.

I can’t stop thinking about it...whoever wrote that note knows me. He’s watching me...waiting for the right moment to attack.

Give it a rest. So a couple of trash cans topple over. Blame it on the wind.

I suppose...

The more she tried to comfort herself, the more she couldn’t help her thoughts blindly drift around her head. Eventually, everything she tried to think of to occupy herself came back to the notice she got.

Let’s see...what did I do last winter? I...made the mail team...met Blitz and Haywire for the first time...

Yeah, even I’D want myself dead for that, she thought sarcastically.

... I also helped Mr. Drago on personal runs...threw a surprise party for Blitz...what else...Oh yeah!! And I also broke up with my old boyfriend, Bruiser.

She recoiled at the thought of his name again.

Ugh...Bruiser...what a moron. He’d pretend to act like a buff whenever people see him with me, just because he had a macho name...but if he so much as tripped and fell over, he’d act like such a whiney pup!! How could I’ve ever forced myself to like him?

Yet, for all her experience, Ambyr knew that Bruiser, if provoked to a certain point, could act like a wild dog. He could do quite a bit of damage to anyone that got too near. She couldn’t remember how well he took to her breaking up, but he was scarcely seen afterwards.

Thinking of him sent shivers down Ambyr’s spine. That’s it, she thought. No one in the world would want to hurt me except him. He’s GOT to be the one who sent the letter!! What if he’s watching me right now?

Ambyr tried to shake her thoughts away, but still they remained. Maybe he’s not after ME, she thought with horror. Maybe he’s going to attack Blitz or Haywire first!! Oh, my musher!! I’ve got to warn them!!

Hold on a minute, her thoughts relied. Don’t go jumping to any conclusions.

I WANT to be wrong!! I have to get to Blitz and Haywire before something terrible happens to them.

Ambyr looked up at the sky. She gasped again at how much time had passed by...how much of her “day off” she had actually spent worrying about her friends. But none of that mattered now. The sun was beginning to begin its descent, and that left her with only a few hours before nightfall – the time when terrible things ALWAYS happen.

Blitz lowered himself from the ladder. He looked around the boiler room, quite satisfied in the work, time, and effort he, Haywire, and a few of his handy helpers have done. The stage was set, the pieces were moving, and now, it was time to close in for the kill. Blitz signaled to a group of cats to put out the embers in the heater. They did so quickly and silently. The boiler room was immediately plunged into an eerie darkness.

“Haywire,” Blitz said. “Time for Phase Four. Remember what you’re supposed to do!!”

Blitz could see Haywire’s shadowy silhouette gesture to him with his paws. “Y’yeah, no problem. Leave it to me.” And with that, he walked forward. A loud thump echoed through the room, followed by a whine.

“The doors on the other side, Haywire.”

Haywire rubbed his nose. “I knew that.” And with that, he found his way, pushed open the door, and ran off.

Through the darkness, the dark, black cat purred at him. “How much longer until she gets here?” she asked.

“Everything’s going according to plan,” Blitz said with a smile. “You all get into position. It won’t be long now.”

Ambyr dashed across the street, running at full speed back to the boiler room. I really hope I won’t regret coming back for them, she thought with a sigh. Some day off THIS turned out to be. She flew a good fifty yards, and rounded a sharp corner, suddenly, her vision was blurred, and her head saw stars as she collided head-on into someone. Ambyr and the other dog were thrown back in opposite directions. Ambyr shook her head, and struggled up. “Haywire!! W-What’re you doing here!!”

Haywire also struggled to his feet, a horrified expression on his face. He spoke through the pants in his voice. “Amber...It’s terrible!! Something’s happened, you gotta come...quick!!” He turned around, and started running in crooked lines, still dazed from he and Ambyr’s accident.

Ambyr drew in a breath. Please don’t let it be what I think it is... She took off after Haywire, in hot pursuit.

Blitz and the cats stood at the ready, waiting for their moment to strike. “Any second now,” he said. He laughed silently inside.

Haywire and Ambyr neared the boiler room. With every step they took, both their hearts raced faster and faster. Haywire dug his paws in the earth beneath him, and ground to a halt. The door was closed tight, but Haywire quickly got on his hind legs and unbolted it. He gestured for her to go in first. “You...should have a look...in here...” he said, still panting.

Ambyr cocked her head at the door. Something really life-changing can be behind this door...and it has to happen on MY holiday. What luck. She nodded at Haywire, and then slowly approached the door.

Cautiously, she pushed it open...

...And screamed.

With a wave of the black cat’s tail, the embers in the boiler room were restored, and the darkened boiler room was immersed in a warm light.

“SURPRIIIIIISE!!!!!!!!”

Ambyr’s jaw dropped. Everyone she knew was inside. The entire mail team, Mr. Drago, the postmaster, a few cats, and, of course, Blitz. He had a pointed party hat strapped to his head, as with the rest of the dogs. The humans cheered, dogs happily barked, the cats mewed, and Blitz was just sitting there, grinning at her from ear to ear.

Ambyr still gazed inside the room, flabbergasted, and she didn’t even notice her jaw drop to the ground.

Suddenly, she heard Haywire chuckle behind her, as he reached under his belt buckle, and pulled out a pointed party hat also. He stuck it on his head, and smiled