It's way too cold in your house. You pull your covers tighter around yourself with a grumble, sparing a quick glance at the alarm clock that is perched on your dresser. It's 4:30 AM, much to your dismay. You really should be sleeping, but you just can't manage to drift off into that state of unaware bliss. With a sigh, you stare up a your bland ceiling, a million pointless things racing through your head.

It's a typical Thursday night for you. Your parents work late shifts at the hospital, so you're stuck home alone until the weary hours of early morning (which, in actuality, is around noon). Luckily for you, it's summer vacation, so you don't have to worry about school. However, you'd still like to get some sleep regardless of whether or not there is school to fret about. Turning over on your side, you let out another long sigh.

Tap tap tap.

You perk to attention, your eyes shifting to stare at your window. There was a definite sound of tapping from there. You stare for a few moments before shrugging it off. It's probably a tree branch or something.

Tap tap tap tap.

You sit up this time, eyes narrowing. There it is again! It's bugging you, and it's keeping you from relaxing. In all honesty, you're beginning to feel rather unnerved by it. But you'd never admit that. Instead, you stand with a crack of your back and walk over to the window, peering out at the land below.

You're met with the familiar curve of your backyard. The woods stand out, the moonlight highlighting each and every bend and nook.

Nothing out of the ordinary, you conclude. The tree that stands idly by your window is swaying slightly with a soft breeze, creaking as its limbs are moved.

Just the breeze, you tell yourself. What else could it possibly be? It's silly that you even felt the least bit afraid over something so dumb. You've definitely been reading too many scary stories as of late. Yawning, you jump back in bed, once again shrugging your covers over yourself. You finally feel exhaustion creep up on you, and you close your eyes. Things become hazy as you start to fall asleep…

Knock knock knock.

You shoot up, eyes wide. That's not a tap, that is a knock. It sounds as if someone is pounding their fists against your window. With a shaky inhale, you lay back down, pulling your blanket over your head. Just ignore it. Ignore it.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.

You're scared now. If you weren't such a pansy, you would go investigate. But you are terrified, and the thought of something standing at your window is enough to keep you rooted to your bed..

Zpppt.

You let out a gasp as the power cuts out. It's pitch black, and you can't see anything but the faint light that is coming from your window. You're trembling. The knocking has turned into pounding, and you're biting your pillow in order to keep from screaming.

And suddenly, it all stops.

You're breathing is heavy and quick as you glance around. There's a clicking noise as the power flicks back on. You breathe a sigh of relief. A distant clap of thunder brings a sort of realization to you. It must have been the oncoming storm that caused all the ruckus. It was probably hailing or something, and the wind must have knocked the power out.

You hear your front door open, and your mother's soft voice call out to you. You jump out of bed and run downstairs, happy to see the familiar faces of your parents. You say hello, and hug them.

You pull back and smile. But your smile wavers when you notice a gap in your mother's face, near her chin.

A sudden horror is brought down upon you when you realize it is much too early for them to be home, and that they wouldn't have known you were awake…

Your hand it shaking when you reach out and hook your fingers in the gap of skin. Their smiles never falter as you pull, and the skin comes off. You scream as your wrist is grabbed. The thing leans in close to your ear and whispers,

"Why didn't you answer when I knocked? That was quite rude of you."