The Walking Dead?

Rick slowed down for his friends to catch up. He didn’t want to be by himself. It was starting to get dark, and he’d told his parents he’d be home before it did. The only way to make it in time was to take the shortcut, which was right through the middle of the cemetery.

Matthew and Phil caught up to Rick just as he opened the gate. “What are you doing?” Matthew asked.

“Taking the shortcut back. I can’t be late.”

“Just call your parents,” Phil suggested.

“I can’t. I forgot my phone, and I know you two don’t have one yet, so it’s either take the shortcut or we all get in trouble for being late.”

None of the boys wanted that. They were all supposed to get to spend the night at Rick’s house. They’d gone up to the park to play basketball for a while but had lost track of time. They knew, just like Rick did, that they’d promised they’d be back before dark. The two boys reluctantly followed Rick into the cemetery. The creaking of the gate as it closed behind them made the boys walk faster.

Halfway through the cemetery, they heard a noise. It sounded as if someone was following them. They looked over their shoulders but saw nothing. No one wanted to admit he was scared, but it was obvious in the way each of them began to move more quickly.

The sound of footsteps grew louder, and the boys didn’t even bother to pretend they weren’t afraid. They took off running.

“There’s the gate up ahead,” Phil screamed as the three boys aimed for the exit, flinging open the gate and then slamming it behind them as they stood safely on the sidewalk and just across the street from Rick’s house.

None of the boys saw the gray raccoon that watched them as they ran the rest of the way to Rick’s front door.