I stirred awake to the sound of footsteps. The sound was soft but deliberate, creeping through the silence like a warning. Then the creak of the gate-like door followed. My heart jumped, and my whole body became alert. Fear slid into my chest and wrapped around my lungs, making it hard to breathe.
“Who’s there?” I whispered, barely able to push the words out.
I was answered by silence, but I knew I wasn’t alone. I could feel movement, small but calculated. I wanted to turn on the light, to chase away the shadows, but I was frozen. I blamed myself for turning it off in the first place.
Before I could even sit up, a hand clamped down on me. I felt the cold fingers and rough skin. Panic surged through me. I opened my mouth to scream, but another hand covered it. My scream came out muffled,
