A sound from outside the room made her freeze. She heard footsteps approaching, each step getting louder.
Her heart pounded. She had not felt fear like this before, not this raw, not this paralyzing.
She looked around, desperate for something, anything to defend herself with. There had to be something she could use. Then, her eyes landed on a heavy brass candlestick sitting on the mantle.
She grabbed it, the cool metal warming quickly under her sweaty palm as she positioned herself beside the door.
The footsteps stopped right outside. Lydia held her breath, arms raised, the candlestick clutched so tightly her knuckles ached.
"Who is there?" Her voice shook, but she held her ground. "I swear if you try anything…"
The doorknob turned slowly and the hinges creaked as the d
