In the evening, after a long day at work, I came home tired, hoping to get some sleep and rest.

Something Was Wrong

The moment I stepped out of my car, I noticed something unusual.

The porch light was on.

Normally, that wouldn’t have been strange, except I clearly remembered turning it off before leaving that morning.

I paused for a moment, convincing myself there had to be a simple explanation.

Maybe I had forgotten.

Maybe a family member had stopped by.

Still, a strange feeling settled in my stomach.

An Unexpected Sound

I unlocked the front door and stepped inside.

The house was dark and quiet.

At first.

Then I heard it.

A faint sound coming from upstairs.

It wasn’t loud enough to identify immediately, but it was enough to make me stop in my tracks.

I listened carefully.

There it was again.

A soft movement.

A creak.

My heart started racing.

I lived alone.