Lois' mind raced. The knock came again — slower, heavier, more insistent.
She felt a chill creep up her spine, a cold knot of dread tightening in her gut.
Hands trembling, Lois stood and crept toward the door, each step quieter than the last.
The muffled sounds from the street outside seemed to fade as all her focus narrowed on the figure beyond the door — whoever it was, they weren't making this visit for pleasantries.
Her fingers hovered over the lock, hesitation flooding her.
Should she look through the peephole?
Call the police? Or simply ignore it and pretend she wasn't home?
But something deeper inside told her — this was a moment she couldn't run from.
A shadow moved just beyond the frosted glass. A tall silhouette that felt far too familiar.
Lois's heart hammered wildly as she quietly slid the door open, the dim hallway light spilling over the visitor's face — and the cold smile that greeted her confirmed her worst fears.
