" why won't he answer?"
Alice stood at the entrance of her house, she was already having a bad day, and now the Nich was not answering her phone.
Before she could call him again, she heard a creaking sound comming from the door, when she looked up she saw Nich.
"Why didn't—"
Before she could complete her sentence, she realized she was being dragged in the the house, while she was too confused to speak, Nich Locked the door.
*phew*
Nich sighed in relief, And then looked at his now furious sister.
Alice was not an unreasonable woman, for the most part.
So, Nich had enough time to explain before he got his face scratched.
After Alice heard what happened, her expression turned from anger to horror and then to a realization.
"Oh so that's why there was no one outside."
The whole neighborhood that was usually bustling with activities, was now quit as a lake.
Turns out a storm was brewing.
Nich thought for a moment and said.
"But there are police at every corner, did you not see them while you were comming here?"
"..."
Silence.
Nich knew something was amiss.
"Speak before i call mom."
Alice was hesitant, then she told Nich what happened.
"We did saw police on the way here,she was not wearing a helmet driving... So you can say that my friend knew some back alleys."
Partners-in-crime.
Or sisters-in-crime?
Well, Nich knew which one of her friend would happen to know back alleys while at the same time have a bike.
And of course, not wear a helmet.
"Forget it, just stay inside."
Nich said, he knew that if he told mom about this incident, it will only bring about chaos so he decided to stay silent, for now.
"Umm"
"What?"
Alice looked at him with an apologetic face.
"I didn't get any food for you."
Nich had a sudden impulse to look for his phone.
Alice seemed to read his thoughts, and grabbed his hand.
"I thought i can just order it."
The services were off, so there was no chance of it now.
Nich sighed, there was nothing he can do
"I will cook."
His sister said resolutely, repenting for her actions.
Nich waved his hand and went off to his room while saying.
"Before 8:30."
Nich ate, and then took a shower, fortunately his sister took after his mother alot, she can cook a good dime.
Nich was relaxed in his room, today there were some troubles but it was fine now, finally he can relax and read some novels.
***
It was about 10 pm when he heard a sound comming from downstairs.
The sound was like something broke a jar of glass, and the contents inside it were spilled.
He went downstairs to check in the kitchen, but there was no there and he didn't find anything, which made him a little uncomfortable.
He was about to go up staris when he saw his sister leisurely watching tv.
'Could have came from the television.'
Nich thought, Alice was watching a horror movie, but the volume was set at low, so he was still uncertain.
"Did you heard anything peculiar just now?"
Alice looked up from the tv to him with a lazy expression and said.
"No."
"Well i did."
Said Nich.
Alice paused for a second, then realized.
Her little brother was playing a prank on her.
She had done the same things when they were younger, and each time Nich would run off to his mother and cry.
She did got a scolding, but in her defense she would say she was helping him be brave and fearless.
Now it seems her little brother was here for revenge.
How cute.
But did he really think he can scare her with some mesely words?
Dream on kiddo!
"If you are that scared, you can sit with big sisy here, don't worry i will protect you!"
Nich looked at her for a moment, then decided to sit, He was more worried about this idiot than he was about a burglary.
Alice was surprised at first, but then patted Nich's head and went back to watching tv.
She considered it her win.
Time was passing as it always did, but then something peculiar happened.
It was when the the story was at a turning point, and there was supposed to be a jumpscare, but then nothing happened.
*click*
Nich heard a light sound but couldn't discern where it came from.
The lights went off completely, left with not a single thing to see.
While alice, who was watching a horror film jumped up like a kitten, Nich became alert, he took out his phone and turned on it's flashlight.
The dark atmosphere of the room was now lit with a bright light, but only the area in front of them was visible, they were left defenseless from their backs.
At the same time, Alice also regained her sense and took out her phone while cursing.
" Why is there a light black out?"
Alice asked, the area they lived in did not have power cuts like this, in fact this was the first time.
"It is not a power cut."
Nich said.
Alice was confused, but then Nich pointed his fingers at the window, Their neighbor's light were still on, and the house after that also had their lights on.
"...The lights were turn off manually. "
After saying this, he turned the flashlight of his phone in a vertical line, which made the light spread throughout the room.
The room was now dimly lit, while they were alone in the house.
He knew that the power borad of the house was situated in the basement, and he also didn't check the lock to basement.
"Was the basement room locked?"
"I don't know"
Alice blurted, but then she thought again for a second and said.
"I remember, mom had said she was going to clean the basement yesterday, it was around that time when she got the news of grandpa being sick... Maybe she forgot to lock the room in panic? "
Which would only mean there was someone in the basement.
An uninvited guest was here.