Alison's POV
The sun had just begun to set when I walked into my apartment, the soft glow of twilight filtering through the windows. It was supposed to be a peaceful evening, but the constant knot of anxiety in my stomach said otherwise. I tried to shake off the uneasy feeling as I dropped my keys on the kitchen counter and headed to the living room.
Sinking into the couch, I let out a deep sigh, rubbing my temples. Without my phone, I felt strangely disconnected, as if a lifeline had been severed. I tried to distract myself with a book, but the words blurred together, my mind unable to focus.
A sudden knock at the door made me jump. My heart raced as I stood up, cautiously approaching the door. When I peeked through the peephole, I was taken aback. A man stood there, his face obscured
