He howls, jerks his foot back.
The door swings shut.
I throw the deadbolt, shaking so hard my fingers fumble. I yank the chain into place. Once, twice, to make sure it’s caught.
Lily is sobbing into my shoulder, her small body trembling. “Mama,” she hiccups. “Mama, I’m scared.”
“I know,” I whisper, kissing her hair, my own breath coming in ragged bursts. “I know. I’m here. I’ve got you.”
On the other side of the door, I hear movement. A shuffle. A muttered curse. Then a heavy thud against the frame, like he’s testing it.
My heart hammers. My hands shake as I reach for my phone.
I don’t think about being polite. I don’t think about the neighbors hearing.
I hit Maya’s number first. Then, when it doesn’t connect fast enough, I hit emergency.
The lock shudders.
A hard hit slams into the door, the whole frame rattling like it might lift off the hinges. Lily clings to me, crying into my shoulder, her little fists knotted in my shirt.
“Shh,” I whisper, but my voice is useless. My own breath is too loud.
I press my phone to my ear. Nothing. No answer, no operator, just the dead, empty sound of a call trying to connect.
Another ?el?. Another violent slam.
The chain groans like an old bone. The deadbolt holds for a second, then the whole door bucks inward. The metal plate on the frame squeals.
“Oh god,” I breathe.
I don’t think. I move.
I scoop Lily tighter and run down the narrow hallway, bare feet slipping on the hardwood. I can hear my own pulse in my ears. I can hear the man outside, grunting, the sound of rage stripped of words.
Behind me, the door explodes open.
Not fully at first. Just a violent crack, the chain tearing loose with a sound like snapping teeth. Then the door swings wide and slams into the wall.
Lily screams.
My stomach drops so hard it feels like falling.
I slam the bedroom door behind us and twist the lock, even though I know it won’t matter if he’s already inside. I grab the nearest piece of furniture, a chair, and wedge it under the handle with trembling hands.
The apartment is suddenly filled with his footsteps.
I back toward the far side of the room, keeping Lily against my chest. There’s a window. My eyes snag on it like it’s a lifeline.
I rush to it and yank the curtain aside.
Three floors up. A fire escape that ends one building over. No ladder. No safe way down. Just a narrow strip of air and the street far below.
My knees go weak.
No escape.
“Mama,” Lily sobs, her small voice strangled. “Mama, no.”
