Mind Fires

Chapter 5

I don't remember falling asleep that night. However I do remember waking up. I had drifted off whilst working. The TV was still on, gently buzzing and my work was piled up on my lap. I could hear a repetitive thud sound, like someone knocking or walking down the stairs. I sat up and rubbed my eyes so I could look at the clock, which read 12.45am. Kyle wouldn't be home yet. I decided to head upstairs to bed, instead of spending the night on the sofa. Yawning, I stood up to turn the lamps off, and then the TV, which was now on some ridiculous teleshopping programme. I opened the door, quietly, and took one step up the stairs before realising I had forgotten my phone, which was on the small table by the sofa. I stumbled in the darkness for a bit, and then flicked the lamp on. But my phone wasn't there. That's funny, I thought. I could've sworn I left it there. I furrowed my eyebrows whilst checking if it had somehow slipped down the sofa when I was asleep. But it wasn't there either. I knew I had brought it into the living room. It couldn't be anywhere else. Unless Kyle had took it to work, which was highly unlikely.

Suddenly, I heard a light tapping sound. It wasn't the same noise as before. It was probably just a bird pecking on the window, I thought. No, it was definitely coming from somewhere in the house. It was getting closer. Tap. Tap. Tap. It was almost as if it was right behind me. I gulped.

Curiosity wasn't the word. I could sense something was behind me. "Please..." I whispered, "Don't hurt me. I have children here," the fear inside of me made my voice sound mangled, all high pitched. I began to hesitantly turn around, not prepared for what I was about to see, "there's money in the-"

I cut myself off with a scream, so loud that I had to cover my own mouth. The weight inside my chest was replaced with the feeling of butterflies leaving my stomach. I wiped the sweat off my forehead with my trembling right hand, relieved that it was only Micah and Nathaniel standing before me.