3

Walking down the corridor towards the kitchen, Anika was dumbfounded in front of the open doors, which she locked.

Immediately at the entrance there was a refrigerator, the top door of which was open, and below it stood someone’s bare bare feet, and without a doubt a man’s. And what is usually hidden under underwear was covered by the curtain from her window. And the owner of these legs rummaged through her refrigerator like a master. Anika opened her mouth in surprise at such a stunning picture. She rubbed her eyes to make sure she wasn't imagining things and looked through the doors again.

The first thought was that a homeless person had climbed into the house. But there was a dog in the kitchen, where could it have gone? One look like this can be scary. Maybe she snuck into another room? After all, it was clear that arriving at the house was a common thing for her. Anika stepped back on tiptoe, looking into the living room, but did not find the dog there.

She looked again at the refrigerator ripper. Next question: why did you wrap yourself in her curtain? Did he climb in on her naked? Maybe someone's runaway lover? This thought made Anika involuntarily want to laugh, but she restrained herself so as not to attract the attention of the uninvited guest. How did he even get into her kitchen? Maybe she forgot to close the door when she let the dog in?

We need to get rid of him. Call the police immediately or try to drive away yourself? Anika froze in thought, thoughtfully looking at her feet near the refrigerator.

- Why are you stuck there, mistress? - the uninvited guest suddenly said behind the door.

Anika flinched - he noticed her! And she came to her senses, deciding to take it head on. She hoped that if she attacked right away, the uninvited guest would run away from surprise. She inhaled and stepped towards the kitchen door.

-Who are you, and why are you rummaging through my refrigerator?! - she exclaimed indignantly, approaching the doors with a menacing look.

The refrigerator ripper peeked out from behind the door. And she saw a rather handsome young guy with dark hair and expressive blue eyes. At first glance, he reminded her of someone, but she couldn’t figure out who. Having quickly sorted through similar characters in my memory, I couldn’t remember anything similar. But no matter who he is, this does not give him the right to run her kitchen. The guest was chewing something, apparently taken from the refrigerator, and in his hand he had a piece of sausage and bread. Anika was even a little confused, expecting to see an overgrown, unkempt homeless man. The guy looked at the girl in her pajamas with interest.

“Cute pajamas,” the guy said with a slight smile, looking her quickly from head to toe.

Anika was wearing indigo pajamas consisting of a shirt and pants. At his remark, she involuntarily turned her gaze to herself, then came to her senses and, shaking her head, repeated angrily:

-Who are you and why are you rummaging through my refrigerator?

“I’m trying to eat,” he replied, smiling. - Only you don’t have much choice here. I can’t get enough of yogurt and cottage cheese, but I’ve already eaten meat. Well, at least there’s sausage,” he showed a piece in his hand.

Anika realized that the uninvited guest was not at all embarrassed either by his behavior or by the fact that he was in someone else’s house without an invitation.

- What the heck! - Anika exclaimed even louder. - This is my refrigerator and my sausage.

She ran to the refrigerator and slammed the door in his face. The guy took a step back, continuing to chew.

“Sorry, mistress, but I really wanted to eat,” the guy said guiltily.

Anika gave him an angry look. His physique turned out to be impressive: tall, almost a head taller than her, muscular, with smooth skin and beautiful facial features. Straight out, a model from sportswear magazines. She saw them more often on the catwalk, at shows, than on the streets. He definitely didn't look like a homeless person.

- How did you get here? - Anika demanded.

“Through the door,” the guy shrugged.

- Did I forget to lock the door when I let the dog in? - Anika asked herself, turning her confused gaze to the front door.

She again looked angrily at the guy, who was carelessly chewing sausage and bread. His carefree appearance and innocent look made Anika think that this could be a mentally ill person in front of her. The realization that I would have to deal with a psycho did not add joy. Such a contingent can be different, it’s good if this one is not violent. It was necessary to act and get rid of the uninvited guest. You may need the help of specialists for this.

- What are you, a psycho exhibitionist? - she asked, squinting suspiciously, wondering whether to call the orderlies or not.

“No,” the guy said woundedly. “I’m not in the habit of walking naked in front of people, but need forced me.”

“Crazy, it can’t be otherwise. And there was no point in hoping that he would confess,” the girl reasoned.

“I have a big dog,” Anika said threateningly, “so you better get out as quickly as possible.” Otherwise I'll call the police!

She pointed imperiously to the door. The guy cleared his throat, chewing another piece he had bitten off, and crossed his arms over his chest.

“You don’t have any dog,” he said. - And I’m not going anywhere.

The guy made it clear with all his appearance that he was not going to leave.

“Definitely crazy,” the girl thought.

Anika took her breath away from the unprecedented impudence of the uninvited guest. Exhaling and inhaling, she glanced around and remembered: there was a mop behind the refrigerator. Jumping back, she grabbed a metal folding mop and held it out in front of her.

“If you don’t get out,” she growled, “I will be forced to use force.” I’ll also take the curtain.

She pointed to an unusual piece of clothing the guy was wearing.

“Mistress,” the guy said plaintively, “you can’t kick me out.” You set me free.

“Now I’ll definitely free you, there’s nowhere more free,” said Anika, advancing with a mop. - Get out into the street or I'll call the dog.

The guy frowned angrily and put his hands on his hips.

“I am that dog,” he suddenly declared.

Anika first raised her eyebrows in surprise, taken aback by such a statement, then she also frowned. “Definitely crazy,” she confirmed her diagnosis for him. Did he really do something to the poor dog?

- You released her! - Anika exclaimed and went towards the guy with the mop.

She waved it, but the uninvited guest deftly dodged it, retreating back. The girl continued to advance, and the guy backed towards the door across the kitchen.

“Please,” the guy raised his hands in front of him in a protective gesture, “I can’t cross the threshold, otherwise I’ll become a dog again!”

- Go away! - Anika screamed, not wanting to listen to his nonsense. - Psycho!

She pressed him against the door and forced him to open it. The castle was surprisingly closed. Turning the key, the guy opened the door, and Anika forced him out the threshold. Taking a couple of steps away from the door, he looked at her reproachfully. A few seconds later there was a bang. A cloud of fog - and instead of a guy, a black dog with blue eyes, wrapped in a curtain, was sitting in front of the door. The dog, turning to her, whined and wagged his tail.

Anika looked at him with wide eyes, not believing what she saw. Before her eyes, a man had just turned into a dog. She slammed the doors automatically and turned the key. Dropping the mop, she ran into the bedroom in fright. She slammed the door behind her and hid under the blanket.

After sitting there, she came to her senses a little.

“Maybe I dreamed it all,” Anika muttered, getting out from under the blanket.

She went to the bathroom again and washed her face to regain her senses. She carefully examined her reflection in the mirror for illness, but did not find anything suspicious. There was no temperature, the eyes were fine, the throat was not red. Perhaps she dreamed everything that happened? She quickly got dressed, because she was already late for work, and went downstairs. After having breakfast with corn flakes and yogurt and drinking coffee, I looked out the window - the dog remained lying in front of the door.

“And he doesn’t leave, you fiend of hell,” Anika grumbled, looking out the window from the kitchen. - But I need to go to work.

Looking at the animal again, she sighed heavily.

“The devil dared to approach this dog,” she grumbled and, sadly shaking her head, added in reproach to herself: “Your kindness will destroy you, Anika.”

Putting on a light jacket and grabbing a backpack, she carefully opened the door and slipped out. The dog raised his head, looking at her with a pleading look, and beat his tail on the floor.

“Don’t even look at me,” she shook her finger at him, “get out of the way.” But no, I can give you a ride to the nearest shelter. Or call a knacker.

She decided to be stricter with him so as not to give in to his pleading eyes. The dog looked with such a pitiful look that Anika wanted to pet him. It was hard to believe what had happened half an hour ago. But she reminded herself that this was some kind of demon. People don't turn into dogs. Hastening to the gate, she turned around: the dog was lying in the same place, not trying to follow her, although it was reassuring.