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.

um?? are you sure?

its literally on right now darius, I can see it from the street

Above you, the floorboard creaks again. Slower this time. Like a foot settling in.

wait did you hear that? I think I saw something move

darius I'm not joking anymore

someone just walked past your bedroom window

there is someone in your house. do NOT go up there

The light upstairs holds steady, then flickers once, like a hand passed in front of it.

stay where you are. please.

darius whatever you're thinking right now, stop

the light just went out. I'm watching the house

don't move. don't even breathe loud

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. They stop.

Whoever it is has heard your phone buzz. They know you're down here.

darius the porch light just came on

someone is at your front door

The handle of the staircase door turns, slowly, testing whether it's locked.

The handle stills. The lock holds.

Then, nothing. No steps, no creak. The house goes utterly silent.

darius?? it stopped. I can't see anything moving anymore

Your phone buzzes. A number you don't recognize.

don't turn around.

The screen is the only light. The words sit there, unreadable twice.

Behind you, the silence has a shape now. It breathes.

darius whatever you do. do NOT move

He’s coming downstairs.

and here we're

To be continued...