The Midnight Warning

A stranger called me at midnight and told me not to open my door. The voice was shaking,

desperate, like they were running out of time to warn me. I hung up thinking

it was a prank until I saw the shadow pass by my living room window. Slow and deliberate.

My heart stopped because I live alone and my porch light was off. Nobody should be

out there. The phone rang again. Same number. This time they said my name.

They knew where I lived. They told me something was waiting outside, something that feeds

on people who open their doors after dark. I thought I was losing my mind until

the doorknob started turning. I never locked it. The door creaked open an inch and