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.

alex i'm literally standing in your driveway

your room. second floor. the light is ON.

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

dion.....I'm at the 1st flore

wait. you're DOWNSTAIRS??

alex you told me you were going to bed like an hour ago

The stairs behind you sit in the dark. You haven't heard the front door open all night.

who the hell is in your room then

I went down for a drink.....***I don't know who but they messed with the wrong house***

alex stop. do NOT play tough right now

i just saw something move

someone just walked past your bedroom window

alex there is someone IN YOUR ROOM

The creaking upstairs stops. All at once. Like it's listening too.

i'm serious. whatever you're about to do —

alex. listen to me. stay where you are

don't make a sound, don't move, just —

The phone trembles in your hand. The dark upstairs holds perfectly still.

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 landing. They don't hurry. They don't slow down.

alex?? are you still there

the light just went off. i saw it

whatever you do don't let them see your face in the window

Then the footsteps stop. Somewhere above you, close to the top of the stairs.

hehe oh dear dion.....I'm not in danger.....they are now time for my feast hehe dont come in when you hear a scheme because it wouldn't be mine

alex what the HELL are you saying

this isn't funny

The words leave your mouth louder than you meant. The silence upstairs takes them in.

A floorboard shifts. Not a creak this time. A deliberate, testing press of weight.

i can hear you through the window. alex stop talking

whatever that was, HE heard it too

Then — nothing. No step. No creak. The house above you goes perfectly still.

hehe come out come out wherever you are.....you know what....im coming for you hehhahahehahehehaheh

Your laugh comes out wrong — too loud, jagged, filling the whole dark house.

You step toward the stairs. And the house answers with silence.

Total. The footsteps are gone. No creak, no shift, nothing. Like he was never there at all.

alex i can't see your window anymore

someone pulled the curtain. from the inside

alex where are you right now??

Then your phone buzzes. Not Dion.

Unknown number. One message.

don't turn around.

alex your phone. is that him texting you??

The screen glows in your hand. The cursor blinks. Nothing else moves.

Then, at the top of the stairs, a floorboard presses down. Slow. Certain.

He’s coming downstairs.

and here we're

To be continued...