The blinding blue and red lights cast an eerie glow upon the darkened interior of Evelyn's house, accentuating the palpable tension in the air. Police officers moved with purpose, their footsteps echoing through the once-tranquil space as they conducted a meticulous search for clues. Evelyn sat on the couch, a towel draped around her shivering form, her eyes darting between the officers' movements and the shattered window on the second floor.
Detective Simmons, a seasoned investigator with an air of determination, approached Evelyn with a notepad in hand. "Miss Evergreen, I understand this has been a traumatic experience for you. We're doing everything we can to apprehend the intruder and ensure your safety. Can you please provide us with any information that might help our investigation?"
Evelyn swallowed, her throat dry as she recounted the events of that harrowing night. "I was in the bath," she began, her voice wavering, "and then I felt this presence, like someone else was there with me. I thought it was just my imagination at first, but then... I couldn't move, and his hands... they were so cold, touching me..."
Detective Simmons nodded empathetically. "Take your time, Miss Evergreen. Can you describe anything about the intruder? Did you see anything, hear anything distinctive?"
Evelyn closed her eyes, trying to summon any details from the blur of sensations that had enveloped her. "I couldn't see his face, it was like he was a shadow. But his touch, it felt so invasive, so violating. And then... he was gone, just like that."
Detective Simmons jotted down notes, his expression focused as he absorbed every word. "We're checking nearby CCTV cameras for any signs of unusual activity," he assured her. "It might take some time, but we'll do our best to identify this person."
As the investigation continued, Evelyn's frustration grew. The memory of her explicit daydreams mixed with the intrusive touch of the intruder, leaving her feeling vulnerable and confused. She had always been a rational person, but the events of that night had shaken her core beliefs. Detective Simmons, sensing her distress, approached her again.
"Miss Evergreen, I understand that this is a difficult situation. But we're here to help you. We take these cases seriously, and we won't stop until we find answers," he said firmly.
Evelyn looked up at him, her eyes reflecting a blend of fear and determination. "I just can't make sense of it all. It's like someone was controlling my thoughts, and he tried to ra–" SHe choked at the thought of what horrible thing could have happened to her.
The Detective patted her back seemingly trying ot calm her down with whatever he had.
"Detective over here!" Called an officer.
The officers who had scoured the house for evidence found a shattered window, the lingering sense of violation—it all painted a chilling picture. "Whoever it was must have already escaped." THe officer reported . THe Detective's eyebrows knitted painfully and then looked at Evelyn through the corner of his eyes and found her still trembling. He slowly approached her again and this time with a little guilt.
"We have found a broken window, It was opened, " he informed her. "It's possible that he managed to escape before we arrived."
Evelyn's heart sank. The weight of her vulnerability settled heavily upon her. "What do I do now?" she whispered, her voice laced with desperation.
Detective Simmons offered her a reassuring smile. "We're stepping up patrols in the area, and we'll keep investigating. In the meantime, we've assigned an officer to stay with you, just to ensure your safety."
As the police presence began to dwindle, a sense of isolation crept in. Evelyn clung to the couch, the towel a fragile barrier against the unknown. Detective Simmons turned to her, his voice firm yet compassionate.
Evelyn nodded and then watched as all the officers exited the door one by one. Slowly, she started to feel the weight of her surroundings bearing down on her nerves. She quickly got up, grabbed her phone that she had put on charge as it died, and scrolled through her contacts to call Jane.
"Hello?!" She said urgently, her voice quivering.
"Yeah, hello?" Jane's voice was heavy with sleep, having been awakened from her slumber.
"Hick!" Evelyn's voice choked, and a mournful cry escaped her lips.
"Hey! Why are you crying?! Are you okay?" Jane's tone suddenly shifted, and the sound of creaking indicated that she had jumped out of bed hastily.
"Someone—Hick," Evelyn wiped the tears from her eyes, speaking with a rawness in her voice. "Someone broke into the house and—"
"Okay, okay, stop crying. You don't have to say anything. I will come to your house. Just wait a moment." Jane struggled to put on her sweater while keeping the phone to her ear. She hurried down the staircase and grabbed the keys. Evelyn could hear all this through the phone, and it reassured her that she wasn't alone. Jane wanted her to know that.
"Have you eaten yet? It's 2 in the morning, but I am still asking," Jane continued as she started the engine of her father's car, a vehicle she was forbidden to use.
"No," Evelyn clung to the phone like a lifeline.
"Okay, we will make you something when I get there."
"Uhm," Evelyn nodded, curling up on the sofa.
Jane continued to talk about random things, attempting to distract Evelyn from the distressing situation. Evelyn replied between her tears, her emotions dampening her cheeks and neck.
In the distance, Evelyn heard the eerie sounds of howling emerging, causing her body to tense up. She turned her head around. "What is that sound?" She asked.
"What sound?" Jane's voice came through the phone.
"The howling, didn't you hear that?"
"No, but it must be the animals in the woods. Stop scaring yourself with those sounds now," Jane reassured, clicking her tongue.
"No, I mean, I've never heard these before in this area. They sound very close up."
"Okay, now that I am here, let's talk face to face about your worries," Jane said as she parked the car in the driveway and ended the call. Evelyn quickly sprang up from the couch, rushed to the door, and opened it. She dashed down the stairs and threw herself into Jane's arms, holding her tightly. "What took you so long?" She mumbled, her tears flowing once again.