Someone Is Inside

You’re home alone tonight. At least, you’re supposed to be.

11:47 PM. A floorboard creaks upstairs.

Your phone buzzes.

hey wierdo, I am outside.

looks like you have left your lights on

wait what?

I didn’t turn it on.

philip that's your bedroom right? the window on the left?

because it's definitely on. i can see the curtains from the street

Above you, the floorboard creaks again. Slower this time. Closer to the top of the stairs.

are your parents home?? is this a joke

I think their home, I'm not sure - I can't remember

you can't REMEMBER if your parents are home??

philip. babe. that's not a thing you forget

The creak comes a third time.

Then a long drag of something across the floor upstairs — slow, like weight being shifted foot to foot.

ok i just heard that through the wall. tell me that's your dog

please tell me you have a dog i forgot about

Yeah I've got a dog he's called buster

you do not have a dog. i've been to your house like 50 times

philip whatever's up there is not a dog

The light in your bedroom window flickers, like someone just walked between the lamp and the glass.

oh my god

someone just moved past your window. INSIDE. philip there is someone in your house

do NOT go check. stay exactly where you are

Right, I'm phoning the police

yes. good. call them right now

i'm watching your window. the second anything moves i'll tell you

The dragging upstairs has stopped. The silence is worse.

but philip, while you wait for them—

ok. phone in your hand. i'm right here.

and philip? i know you. i know what you're like.

just listen to me first.

then don’t go upstairs.

For a second, the whole house is silent.

The bedroom light switches off.

For a moment, nothing happens.

Then you hear it.

Creak.

One step.

Another.

The steps reach the middle of the staircase. Unhurried. Deliberate.

philip i can hear the stairs. i'm literally outside

where are you right now?? tell me where you are

The kitchen door is behind you. The front door is six steps across the living room.

police still on the line??

Philip (the reader) — I'm in the living room hiding behind the sofa, phone still on the line with police

ok. ok good. stay down

they told me they're 4 mins out. i can see flashing lights on the main road

The footsteps stop at the bottom of the stairs. Everything goes still.

No breathing. No creaking. Nothing.

it went quiet. that's bad right?? that's bad

Then your phone buzzes. Not Dion.

Unknown number.

don't turn around.

philip what's wrong your face just went white

Behind you, so close now, the floor gives the faintest creak.

who texted you?? you there?? PHILIP

He’s coming downstairs.

and here we're

To be continued...