Debbie shrieked in terror, ducking into the corner between the door and wall. "Help! Someone's being attacked!" she screamed.

Her piercing cries drew the neighbors' attention—someone peeked out and quickly called 911.

Panic surged through me. I spun in frantic circles, my brain scrambling for a solution, before spotting a small rock on the neatly trimmed lawn. Without stopping to think if it'd even help, I grabbed it while fumbling to dial 911, then ran straight ...