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.

biglatin I'm literally staring at your window rn

the light is ON. yellow lamp, ugly curtains, all of it

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

you home?? answer me

Blow up the house and run away from the house

You don't have anything to blow a house up with. You have a phone and a racing heart.

??? biglatin you ok? your texts are glitching

Upstairs, something drags across the floor. Long. Slow. Then stops.

ok that sounded bad even from out here

wait

the light just moved?? like a shadow crossed it

I find a bomb and i throw it and run out the house just as it blows up

There is no bomb. There's just you, your phone, and the front door across the dark living room.

You bolt for it — and stop. Your keys are on the hook by the stairs. The stairs that lead up.

BIGLATIN

someone just moved past your bedroom window

a PERSON. inside. I just watched them cross the light

do NOT go up there. please. get out or hide NOW

Upstairs, the creaking stops. Like it's listening for you.

biglatin your keys are by the stairs aren't they

I know that look on your face through the window I can't even see

whatever you're thinking, don't

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 stop halfway down. The staircase railing shadows shift in the dark.

biglatin talk to me. it went dark and now I can hear your stairs

I'm calling the cops but they'll take minutes. minutes you have

Your phone screen glows bright in your hands — too bright. The kitchen doorway behind you is a black square.

whatever you do. do it quiet.

I destroy the door

You grab the front door handle and wrench at it — shoulder, fists, everything.

It rattles like a gunshot in the silent house.

The bolt is old but it holds. And now the whole street can hear you.

BIGLATIN WHAT WAS THAT

whatever's in there DEFINITELY knows where you are now

Above you, the steps resume. Faster. No more sneaking.

Then — silence. Total silence. The house holds its breath.

Your phone buzzes. Unknown number.

don't turn around.

The screen's glow is the only light. Behind you, the kitchen doorway stays black and still.

biglatin your door just SHOOK. I heard it from the street. answer me

Then, from the top of the stairs — a floorboard. One slow, deliberate step.

He’s coming downstairs.

and here we're

To be continued...