Shattered ✓

T H I R T Y - S E V E N

Alexa

It felt like the air had been sucked out of the room the moment they left. I kept my eyes glued to the door, waiting for them to come back, trying not to let the creeping fear take over.

Michael sat next to me, uncharacteristically quiet. He drummed his fingers against his knee, his lips pressed into a thin line.

"You think it's him, don't you?" I finally asked.

Michael stopped drumming and looked at me, his smile forced. "Who? Benny? Nah, probably just a squirrel or something."

"A squirrel," I repeated flatly.

"Yeah. Big, noisy squirrel."

"Michael."

"Okay, fine," he said with a sigh, running a hand through his hair. "Maybe it is him. But they'll handle it. Zach and Cameron are home too. We're safe, Lexi."

I nodded, but the unease in my chest didn't budge.

The minutes stretched into what felt like hours. I kept glancing at the window, half-expecting Benny to come crashing through again.

Finally, the door opened, and Elliot stepped inside.

"Everything's fine," he said quickly, holding up a hand before I could ask.

Jackson and Andrew followed him, both looking tense.

"What was it?" Michael asked.

"Nothing," Jackson said.

"But we're locking all the windows and doors again," Andrew added. "Just in case."

I swallowed, my heart still racing.

"You're sure it was nothing?" I asked, looking at Elliot.

He hesitated, just for a second, before nodding. "Yeah. Nothing to worry about."

But the look in his eyes said otherwise.

Later that night, I couldn't sleep.

Everyone had decided to stay over after all. Jackson and Michael were sprawled out on the floor, already snoring. Andrew was in the corner, wrapped in a blanket, his eyes closed but his breathing uneven—he was awake.

Elliot sat on the edge of my bed, staring at the window.

"You're still awake?" I asked softly.

He turned, startled, then nodded. "Couldn't sleep."

"Me neither."

For a while, neither of us said anything. The quiet was heavy, filled with unspoken fears.

"You don't believe it was nothing," I finally said.

Elliot sighed, running a hand through his hair. "No. I don't."

I sat up, hugging my knees. "Do you think it was him?"

Elliot didn't answer right away. He stared at the window again, his jaw tight.

"I don't know," he admitted. "But I don't like taking chances."

I nodded, my stomach twisting.

"Alexa," Elliot said, his voice low. "If he comes back—"

"He won't," I interrupted quickly.

"But if he does," Elliot pressed, his tone firm, "you can't freeze up like you did last time. You have to fight. Scream. Do whatever it takes to get away."

I blinked at him, startled by the intensity in his voice.

"I mean it," he said, his eyes locking onto mine. "Promise me."