Jenna sat curled up on the couch, idly scrolling through her phone. The hum of the refrigerator and the ticking of the living room clock were the only sounds in the house. It felt different when her mom wasnโt homeโquieter, almost too quiet. Normally, she enjoyed the solitude, but tonight, something gnawed at the back of her mind. A feeling. An unease she couldnโt quite place.It had started earlier that evening when she returned home from her friendโs house. She had locked the front door behind her like always, dropped her keys on the kitchen counter, and kicked off her shoes by the staircase. Everything had seemed normal. But then, she noticed something strange. Her momโs bedroom doorโslightly open.
That was odd. Her mother always shut the door before leaving for trips, a habit sheโd had for as long as Jenna could remember. At first, Jenna brushed it off. Maybe the wind had nudged it open before she left. Maybe she had imagined it. But the feeling of unease didnโt fade. Hours passed, and night settled in. Jenna curled deeper into the couch, trying to ignore the way the house seemed to creak more than usual. She turned up the volume on her phone, scrolling through videos, hoping to drown out the silence. Then, out of the corner of her eye, she saw something. Her breath caught in her throat as she turned her head toward the hallway. The door to her motherโs room was open wider now. Had it been like that before? A cold shiver crawled down her spine. She swallowed, gripping her phone tightly. Calm down. Itโs nothing. But the growing dread in her chest told her otherwise.
She switched on her phoneโs flashlight and stood up slowly. Step by step, she crept toward the hallway, her heart thudding against her ribs. As she reached the doorway, she hesitated. The room was dark, bathed in shadows. The bed was untouched, the way her mother had left it. But something was wrong. The air felt heavier, thicker. Then, she saw it. The closet door was open.
Jennaโs stomach twisted. She was sureโpositiveโthat it had been closed before. The flashlight in her shaky hand swept over the room. Then she aimed it at the mirror across from the bed. And thatโs when she saw it. A reflection. Not hers. A figure. Tall. Unmoving. Hidden in the darkness behind the closet door. A strangled gasp escaped her lips. The beam of her flashlight wavered as her hands trembled. The figure didnโt move. For a moment, neither did she. Then,ย it took a step forward. The wooden floor creaked beneath its weight.
Jennaโs breath hitched as she stumbled backward, her pulse hammering in her ears. The figure emerged slowly from the shadows, and as it did, the dim light from the hallway illuminated its face. It was a man. His face was gaunt, eyes dark and sunken, as if he hadnโt slept in weeks. He was dressed in ragged clothes, his expression blank, almย ost devoid of emotion. But he was looking right at her. Her body went cold. She tried to scream, but the sound lodged in her throat.
The man lifted a finger to his lips. scream tore from Jennaโs lips as she spun on her heel and bolted down the hallway. She could hear him behind her, the pounding of his footsteps growing closer. Adrenaline surged through her veins as she flew down the stairs, nearly tripping in her panic. She reached the front door. Her hands fumbled with the lock. Her fingers, slick with sweat, struggled to turn the deadbolt.
Behind her, she could hear him breathing. She yanked the door open just as his hand brushed against her shoulder. Jenna didnโt look back. She ran. She sprinted barefoot down the empty street, her lungs burning, her heart threatening to explode from her chest. She didnโt stop until she reached her neighborโs house, pounding on the door frantically. Lights flicked on. The door swung open. And thenโeverything blurred into sirens and voices, flashing red and blue. By the time the police entered her house, the man was gone.
The only proof he had ever been there was the closet doorโwide openโand the single, dirty footprint left behind on her motherโs bedroom floor. Unedited. Real. The kind of scene no one would believe. Jenna never stayed home alone again.
