I hated being stuck in that realm in between sleep and awake. The awareness was too much to let me drift off to sleep. My neighbors were sometimes loud when they had guests, but it was rare they'd be partying until this hour.
But it wasn't a constant foot to floor stomping like it would normally be. Like the kind I'd here when my upstairs neighbor was leaving for work at wee hours in the morn. It was more of a clang and smack. And it was too loud, and not coming from above. I pondered, the more I thought about the technicalities, the further I bored myself to sleep, slowly drifting away.
I lunged forward when a loud crunch sound echoed through my flat. I threw the covers off and bolted from my bed to the kitchen. I ripped one of the knives from the block, the slicing sound ringing in the space around me. I slowly walked towards the front door.
It felt like two hands grabbed my heart and squeezed tightly. A piece of splintered doorframe hung from the handle side, bright light pooling in. I froze. My mind began shrieking, a loud metallic hum ringing in my head as I watched the blunt end of a baton smash through the wood. I wasn't sure I was breathing as I watched as my door was broken down. Yet as I stood watching, not an ounce of me could do a thing. I couldn't move, or scream, or cry. I just watched in horror as I drew nearer to danger. Voices whispered outside the remains of my door, and I could begin to see shadows moving through the cracks in the wood.
Oh my god.
I wasn't sure if I dropped the knife or if it just slipped and fell out of my numb fingers. Regardless, I finally turned and sprinted down the hallway and slid across the floor into my room. I slammed my door shut just as I heard the front door swing and crash open. The water in my eyes just spilled out, burning down my cheeks.
I turned frantically, looking around my room. I dove for my bed, grabbing my phone before dropping soundlessly to the floor and dragging my body underneath. I furiously tapped the device but instead of a screen to call for help, I was face to face with a connect to power outlet. Dead. I nearly cried out, searching around me for my charger, seeing it hanging from atop my bed. I yanked it down and plugged it in.
I froze as in the distance I heard footsteps. My breathing was shaky, the only indication that I still was breathing at all. I heard murmurs and the sound of the knife blade being kicked and skidding across the floor. I barely made out the words spoken from the other room.
"Someone's here."
"No no no no no..."
I kept pressing the home button, begging for it to come back to life. I was as dead as it was if it didn't turn on soon. The footsteps got louder as they creaked down the hall. I just couldn't stop the tears from pouring from my eyes. They formed a puddle on the floor below my face.
I entire body went cold as the handle on my bedroom door fidgeted. Every possible scenario played in my head. They came in and ransacked the room, finding me in my stupid hiding spot and killing me. Finding me and making me give up my belongings. Finding me and...
The door swung open and new scenarios filled my head. I waited for gunshots, screaming. But only silence and two pairs of feet slowly entered the room. I watched, my eyes finally dry, horrified and helpless. This was the ultimate incarnation of a sitting duck. Up shit's creek without a paddle. Completely fucked.
I covered my mouth with my hand, trying to just eliminate any and all breathing altogether. Maybe I'd suffocate and I'd be dead when they found me and I wouldn't have to worry about what happened next. I lay motionless. Even if I wanted to, I couldn't move.
I heard their whispers as they began shuffling around the room. I flinched at the sound of my dresser drawers being yanked open. Tears streamed down as I saw pieces of my clothing fall to the floor in a heap. The sound of my closet doors being shoved open. Good thing I hadn't dove for cover there.
