The house had never felt this still before. The usual hum of life, the creak of floorboards settling, and the faint whistle of wind through the cracks had all vanished, replaced by a suffocating silence.
Lena pressed her back against the door, her hand gripping the brass handle tightly as if it were the only anchor keeping her grounded. Shadow stood by her side, his golden eyes fixed on the hallway. His fur bristled, every muscle in his body taut like a spring ready to snap.
The footsteps that had echoed moments ago were gone, but the weight of their presence lingered. Whoever—or whatever—was out there wasn't making any noise now, which was somehow worse.
"Who's there?" Lena called out, her voice a trembling echo swallowed by the dark.
No answer.
The silence stretched, growing heavier with every second. Lena's breath came in shallow gasps, her heart thundering so loudly she feared it would give her away. She glanced down at Shadow. His ears were pinned back, his tail low, and his gaze locked ahead, unblinking.
For a moment, she debated her options. Should she stay here and wait? Or should she try to make a run for her phone in the kitchen?
Shadow let out a low growl, his lips pulling back to reveal sharp teeth. Lena's stomach dropped. Whoever was out there was still close.
Summoning her courage, she whispered to Shadow, "Stay close, okay?"
He flicked an ear in acknowledgment, his growl ceasing as he shifted to stand protectively in front of her.
Lena reached for the bedside lamp, her hand trembling as she turned it on. The warm glow spilled across the room, pushing back the darkness but doing little to ease her nerves.
With slow, deliberate movements, she turned the doorknob and cracked the door open. The hallway beyond was dim, lit only by the faint glow of the moon filtering through the living room windows. Shadows danced along the walls, their shapes twisting unnaturally.
Her throat tightened. "Just the wind," she told herself, though the words sounded hollow even to her.
Shadow stepped forward first, his movements silent, his body low to the ground. He sniffed the air, then turned to look at her, his expression almost human in its urgency.
"Okay," Lena whispered, taking a hesitant step into the hallway.
Each step felt like an eternity. The wooden floor creaked softly under her weight, the sound amplified in the quiet. Shadow moved beside her, his presence both a comfort and a reminder of the danger they might face.
The hallway stretched longer than it ever had before—or so it seemed. Lena kept her gaze forward, scanning every shadow, every flicker of movement. She could feel the cold seeping through the walls, making her shiver despite her sweatshirt.
Halfway down the hall, she froze. A shadow moved at the end of the corridor, darting out of sight before she could fully register it.
Her heart lurched. "Did you see that?" she whispered to Shadow.
He let out a soft huff, his ears swiveling toward the living room.
The hallway opened into the living room, where the moonlight pooled onto the floor. Everything looked untouched: the couch was still covered in the throw blanket she'd left there, the coffee table held an empty mug from earlier that evening, and the bookshelf stood undisturbed.
But something felt wrong. The air was thick, oppressive, as if it carried an unspoken warning.
Lena's eyes darted to the front door. It was closed and locked—just as she'd left it.
A soft sound—like the rustle of fabric—came from behind her.
She spun around, her pulse racing. "Hello?"
Nothing.
Shadow growled again, this time louder. He stepped ahead of her, his gaze fixed on the hallway they'd just walked through.
And then she heard it again.
"Lena… run…"
The voice was faint, barely more than a breath, but it was unmistakable. Lena's blood turned to ice.
She whipped her head toward Shadow, who was now snarling, his teeth bared. His gaze darted between her and the hallway, as though urging her to move.
"Did you hear that?" she asked, her voice barely audible.
Shadow barked sharply, a sound that made her flinch. It wasn't his usual bark—it was sharper, angrier, like a warning.
Before she could react, something slammed against the back door. The sound reverberated through the house, loud and jarring, shattering the fragile stillness.
Lena let out a startled cry, stumbling backward. Shadow bolted toward the noise, his claws clicking against the floor as he barked furiously.
"Shadow, no!" Lena called, panic rising in her throat.
But he didn't stop. He reached the kitchen and skidded to a halt, his growls deep and menacing.
Lena forced herself to move, her legs shaking as she followed him. When she reached the kitchen, she froze.
The back door was ajar, swaying gently on its hinges. The lock had been broken, the wood splintered as if something—or someone—had forced their way inside.
Her stomach churned. She hadn't imagined the footsteps, the shadows. Someone had been here.
Shadow stood at the doorway, his body rigid, his gaze fixed on the darkness beyond. His growl grew louder, more threatening.
Lena reached for the nearest thing she could find—a frying pan sitting on the counter. It wasn't much, but it was better than nothing.
"Who's there?" she called again, her voice shaking.
A figure stepped into view, silhouetted by the moonlight. It was a man, tall and broad-shouldered, with piercing eyes that seemed to glow faintly in the dark.
Lena's grip on the pan tightened. "What do you want?"
The man didn't answer. Instead, he took a step forward, his movements slow and deliberate.
Shadow barked furiously, lunging toward the man, but he stopped just short of attacking. The man raised a hand, and to Lena's shock, Shadow froze. His growls ceased, and he stepped back, his ears flattening against his head.
"Shadow?" Lena whispered, her fear giving way to confusion.
The man's gaze shifted to her, his expression unreadable. "Lena Woods," he said, his voice calm but carrying an edge of authority. "You're in danger."
Lena blinked, her mind struggling to keep up. "Who are you? What are you talking about?"
The man glanced behind him, into the darkness. "There's no time to explain. You need to leave this house. Now."
Lena shook her head, her grip on the pan tightening. "I'm not going anywhere until you tell me who you are and what's going on!"
The man sighed, his gaze flicking back to Shadow. "I'm not your enemy. But if you don't leave, they'll come for you."
"Who's 'they'?" Lena demanded.
Before the man could answer, a sound like shattering glass erupted from the living room.
Lena's heart stopped.
"They're here," the man said, his voice grim.
Shadow barked again, his growls echoing through the house as the intruders made their presence known.