Kelsey:Can you not fish for information? I promise you, nothing is happening between us. Which reminds me, I left my food in the microwave. I need to get it.
Mom:But he’s so handsome.
Kelsey:Bye, Mother.
I set my phone down on my bed and head toward the kitchen, but pause. I look at myself in the mirror and scan my outfit. Joggers and a white tank top with no bra. Semi revealing, but not revealing enough, plus JP isn’t home. He went out somewhere. Nothing to worry about.
I’m not going to change clothes to retrieve my food from the microwave.
I head out of my room and down the hall to the kitchen, debating if I should start a new show, such a commitment, or find a movie that appeals to me, also a commitment. If I choose a show, that means I have something to watch for—
“Errrrrrrrm.”
I pause.
What was that?
I don’t move.
I hold my breath, waiting to hear the noise again.
The way the building is mapped out, you wouldn’t hear the penthouse on the other side, and I know I’m alone because JP said he was going out. So, does that mean... is someone in here?
My heart pounds wildly in my chest as I creep forward, listening, waiting...
“Urggghhh.”
There it is again.
This time, the sound sends a chill down my spine, and the hairs on the back of my neck rise.
That isn’t a normal building creaking sound. That’s a sound that comes from a human. Or a suffering animal.
Or a suffering human.
Something is suffering.
Creeping forward, I try to stay as quiet as I can so I can locate the sound.
“Uhhhhhhhrrrrrr.”
My head snaps to the right, down the hallway toward JP’s room.
Since the only light on in the main living space is in the kitchen, I can see that there’s no light showing through the crack under JP’s door.
So he’s definitely not home.
Which means... there’s either a murderer in there, a suffering animal, or a ghost.
I shuffle to the kitchen, keeping my eyes on his door the entire time as I haphazardly reach for a wooden spoon from the utensils crock on the counter. Spoon in hand, I creep toward his hallway, only to stop when I hear the noise again.
“Frrrrrrrreeerm.”
Oh God.
Oh God.
OH GOD!
