As you tiptoed down the stairs in the dead of night, the floorboards creaked beneath your weight. You were accustomed to the stillness of the house at this hour, but tonight something felt different, off-kilter. 

As you reached the kitchen, your small hand grasped the cold metal handle of the refrigerator, craving a sip of water to quench your thirst. But just as you turned to retreat, a faint sound caught your attention—a soft shuffle of footsteps, foreign and unwelcome in the silent house.

