Chapter One: The Alarm


The alarm wasn’t supposed to go off yet.


It was 3:00 a.m., and Jenna was wide awake, her heart racing in her chest. The small, red light on the clock glowed in the dark, mocking her. She hadn’t set it for this time; she was sure of it. Her fingers trembled as she fumbled to turn it off, silencing the shrill sound that had jolted her from her dreams. But as soon as she sat up, she heard it—the faint sound of footsteps outside her bedroom door.


She froze, her breath catching in her throat. She was alone in the house. At least, she thought she was. Her roommates had all gone home for the holidays, leaving her to enjoy a week of peace. Or so she had hoped. Now, the house felt strangely foreign, the silence heavy and filled with unknown sounds.


The footsteps continued, slow and deliberate, as if someone was trying not to be heard. Her heart pounded louder, almost as if it were trying to drown out the approaching steps. She reached for her phone on the bedside table but found it missing. She knew she had left it there the night before. A chill ran down her spine. Someone must have taken it.


She silently slipped out of bed, her bare feet brushing against the cold floor. Her mind raced, searching for any logical explanation. Maybe one of her friends had come back early? But even if that were the case, why would they be sneaking around at this hour?