Don't Turn Around

The house didn't just feel empty; it felt hungry. Elias sat in the kitchen,

the only sound the rhythmic ticking of the wall clock. <break time="1.0s" /> Then, from the hallway

upstairs, came the unmistakable thud of a heavy footstep. He froze,

his breath catching in his throat. He lived alone. <break time="1.0s" /> Another thud. Dragging.

Slow. Elias stood up, his chair scraping against the linoleum with a piercing

screech. He stared at the darkened doorway of the kitchen, waiting for a shape

to emerge. <break time="1.0s" /> The ticking of the clock suddenly stopped. In the absolute silence,

a voice whispered from directly behind his ear, cold enough to frost the air. <break time="1.0s" />