One night in a small rural town in upstate New York, fifteen-year-old Dylan Hellenbrand, who is home alone, hears the doorbell ring. Upon inspecting the peephole, the wary teenager decides not to answer. The person standing on the porch is wearing a dark jacket with a hood. Something about the mysterious unexpected visitor doesn’t feel right.

A minute later as Dylan tries to pretend that no one is home, he hears, in the backyard, his German shepherd Murray barking and growling fiercely. Then to the adolescent’s horror, he hears the sound of a loud boom, reminiscent of a firecracker exploding. Suddenly the dog squeals like a stuck pig.

Oh no! What just happened? What was Dylan suppose to do now?

Hide!

Yes! Hide. That was about all he could do. Especially since Dylan had forgotten to lock the back door.