Writer's note: Final chapters come this Friday, 1/17! Thank you to everyone who opens the story and has read along with me!
October 31st, 2005
2:47 AM
The figure passes through the moonlight while you're huddled against the hall, forcing your breath to submit. In a thinking part of your brain it reaches you how naturally one slips back into long forgotten habits once flight-or-fright kicks in. Old, practiced tendencies shape your hands into fists and once again make your footsteps so light you might not be touching the ground at all. Watching the shadow slip passed the kitchen window and behind the wall, you realize your heart isn't beating with fear, but with its close neighbor, anticipation. This is what's been agonizing you, waiting for. Forward progress, and finally.
What you know that the intruder does not is that they're trapped - they can either leave through the door, wander in the circle that is the floor plan of your apartment, or follow the only other hallway, which leads to the bedroom and bathroom. The hallway, which, coincidentally, you are blocking.
You flex the fingers of your hand. After a glance, you slip like a ghost from the hall and into the deeper shadows of the room. This is your battlefield; you have the upper hand. The sparks of adrenaline are lighting up your fingertips like sparklers.
A few breaths later, the figure passes into the room soundlessly.
Deep breath. You jump to wrap an arm around their neck.