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Imogen Halstead (age 23)
Word count: 1202
Imogen's POV
It wasn't late, nor was it early. It was somewhere in between. That time of evening where you don't know whether or not you need the main light on or a small lamp. I look up from my phone, having just gotten back from work, although I still have my shoes and jacket on. My house is small, but homely. I love it here.
Bang. I look up, confused. Bang. Uh... I slowly stand up, scared out of my mind. I've been hearing noises from the attic for weeks, but I've been putting it down to the age of the house. Hey, it's a vintage house, there's gonna' be some creaks and bangs... I just haven't noticed them until recently. I look around, and I hate to admit, my mind goes straight to the supernatural. Do I have a ghost? Hell. It better be a nice ghost...
Anyways... I make my way over to my kitchen and grab some stuff to make dinner with. Opening the fridge, I pause for a second. I could've sworn I didn't eat the left over pesto pasta... it was on the second shelf. It was right there. Jesus, I really am losing my marbles. Time for a nap...
~
I wake up feeling even more tired than I did before my nap, which is ridiculous. How much sleep does a girl really need? I check the time on my phone and sigh, looks like it's bed time...
As I plod up the stairs I notice that only certain steps creak. One. Six. Ten. Only three of them creak. I make it to the top and head towards my bathroom, ready for a lovely nights rest given that the kids at kindergarten really gave me a run for my money today... Christmas time reeks havoc in kids.
~
Thud. I groan, rolling over as I toss and turn. Thud Thud. My eyes slowly open, as I flop my legs down on my bed. Bang. Shooting up in my bed, I clutch the sheet close to me, my heart rate now staring to pick up. I look around to see if anything fell over, but when I'm met with nothing but darkness I frown heavily. Thud, thud, thud, creak, thud...
I cover my mouth as the sound of footsteps grown closer. The hairs on the back of my neck stand up like pins as the noise stops outside of my room. I quickly roll over so my back is facing away from the door. I'm so scared right now! A tear rolls down my face as I squeeze my eyes shut. If there's a robber in my house he might spare me my life if he thinks I'm asleep and clueless. I hear my bedroom door slowly creak open and I try my best to make my breathing look somewhat normal.
The light from the landing shines through the crack in the door, before whoever is in my house closes the door again. I let out the shakiest breath ever as tears free-fall down my face. I slowly sit up, reaching over to grab my phone as quietly as I can.
Creak, ten. Thud, thud, thud. Creak, six. Thud, thud, thud, thud. Creak, one. The intruders now at the bottom of my stairs. What they could possibly want from my house is beyond me. I own nothing valuable, and I don't own much money.
Tiptoeing over to my closet, I muffle my sobs as much as possible. I close the door behind me and bring my phone up to my face. With jays number on speed dial, I screw my eyes shut as I hit the call button...
~
Jays POV
Buzz buzz, buzz buzz, buzz... "jay" hailey whispers, nudging my arm as i away from my sleep in confusion. I sit up, looking over at my phone as it vibrates. I unplug it and bring it up to my ear, squinting at the bright lights.
"Hello?" I mumble, realising I forgot to check the caller ID. My heart drop as I hear my sister sobbing quietly down the phone, "Imogen, what's wrong?" I sit up fully, now awake. My sudden change of mood grabs Haileys attention as she too sits up, her face worried and confused. I hear Imogen's breath hitch, "there's someone in my house, I'm so scared jay..." she sobs. I look at my wife to see that she's already on the move, "we're coming, don't hang up okay?" I tell my sister and I can't feel her fear through the phone.
~
Imogen's POV
I stay on the phone to my brother, but the truth is I'm terrified. I can hear the intruder making their way back up the stairs as the three steps creak. I hold my breath as things go silent again and I feel the world stand still. The thudding continues, and I have no longer hear jay down the phone. I think he hung up...
I place my shaky hand over my mouth as I hold my breath, the sound of footsteps growing nearer and nearer make my blood run cold. The closet door swings open and all I can do is scream for my life...
~
Jays POV
The house is empty so far but all I want to know is whether or not my sister is okay. Her bedroom is empty, but I know Imogen is smart, she's most likely hiding. Slowly, I creep towards the closet with my gun aimed firmly on the doors, before I yank it open. A blood curdling scream mixed with sobs erupts and I swear I haven't heard that sound from her since our mother died. She's that scared.
Imogen let's out a relieved cry as she jumps up to hide away in my arms, I cradle her as she sobs into my shirt. Hailey looks around at the empty house before we all hear a thud from above us. Imogen stiffens in my arms as her sobs stop in fear, "it's okay..." I plant a reassuring kiss onto her hair. Hailey pulls the attic Astaire down and shines her torch, "Chicago PD! Get your hands in the air! Jay, we got a squatter!"
She yells.
Imogen looks up at me and shudders, "are you okay, huh? Imogen" I give her a light shake. She nods, not even daring to let me go. I close my eyes and let out a heavy breath. My sisters small, petite and dare I say it, physically weak. If anything were to have happened tonight, she wouldn't have stood a chance. Imogen rests her head on my chest, still shaking like a leaf as hailey makes her way down the stairs with the squatter.
~
"We found weeks worth of food up there along with a toothbrush, a bucket and clothes... your clothes" Kim looks up at my sister. I shudder slightly, "I've been hearing things, but I put it down to the house being old..." Imogen holds herself. I sigh, "go pack a bag, you're staying with us for a while" I can't face the reality of leaving her alone again. She's my not so baby sister, I can't lose her.
