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.

Cork. I'm literally looking at it rn

your bedroom. the light is ON

Above you, the floorboard creaks again. Slowly. Like weight shifting from one foot to the other.

are your parents home??

come on up

uh no?? I'm not just gonna walk in

plus I don't have a key lol

wait why do you want me to come up there

The creaking stops. The house holds its breath.

is someone with you? cork seriously

*walks out my room*

You step out into the hall. The stairs rise ahead of you into the dark.

Then Dion's texts come fast, one after another.

CORK

someone just moved past your bedroom window

I saw them. a person. inside your room

cork there is someone UPSTAIRS with you

where are you right now?? are you by the stairs??

cork please tell me you're not going up

don't move. just listen to me

The stairs above you disappear into black. Nothing stirs.

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 come down one by one. Unhurried. Like whoever it is knows you're not going anywhere.

cork what is that sound

I can hear it from the street. is that your stairs??

please tell me that's you

Halfway down now. The dark of the stairwell shifts with each step.

Then the footsteps stop.

The house goes utterly silent. No creak. No breath. Nothing.

...did it stop

cork I'm calling the police, I don't care, I'm doing it rn

Your phone buzzes. Not Dion.

A number you don't recognize. One message.

don't turn around.

The screen glows in your shaking hand. The words sit there, patient.

cork answer me. are you okay? the police are coming, stay where you are

Behind you, a stair creaks. Soft. Almost gentle. Then another.

He’s coming downstairs.

and here we're

To be continued...