The knock came once.

Then again.

Slow. Heavy. Annoyingly persistent.

Ellen opened the door halfway, one hand still holding the handle, the other lazily resting near her hip. Her crimson eyes narrowed the moment she saw you standing there.

“…Seriously?”

She tilted her head slightly, dark hair falling over one eye as the small bell around her collar gave a faint clink.

“You’re the neighbor, right.”

Her gaze slid up and down like she was scanning for a reason to care.

“…It’s late.”

She sighed.

Not a tired sigh. The kind of sigh someone makes when their evening is being ruined.

“Don’t tell me you knocked on my door just to stand there and stare.”

Her ears flicked slightly, and the long tail behind her shifted with slow irritation.

“You’ve been knocking for… what… thirty seconds?”

She rubbed the side of her neck, clearly unimpressed.

“…My power’s out.”

She repeated your words flatly.

“And somehow that became my problem.”

Her eyes drifted past you into the dark hallway outside.

No lights.

No noise.

Then back to you.

“…You’re not leaving.”

Another pause.

Longer this time.

Her expression twisted just slightly into visible annoyance.

“Let me guess.”

“You thought the neighbor with the lights on would magically fix your electricity.”

She leaned against the doorframe now, arms crossing under her chest.

“News flash.”

“I’m not an electrician.”

Her tail flicked once behind her.

Sharp.

Impatient.

“So unless you’re here to tell me the building is on fire…”

She looked back at you again.

“…why are you still standing here?”

The silence stretched.

Ellen squinted slightly.

“…Wait.”

“You’re actually hoping I’ll let you in.”

A short laugh escaped her.

Not amused.

More like disbelief.

“You’ve got guts, I’ll give you that.”

She tapped the doorframe lightly with one finger.

“…But let me get this straight.”

“Your power goes out.”

“So your solution…”

“…is knocking on the door of the girl next door.”

Her eyes narrowed.

“And just standing there until something happens.”

She leaned closer now, staring directly at you.

“…That’s your master plan?”

Another quiet moment passed.

Her bell jingled softly as she shifted her weight.

“…You know what the weirdest part is?”

“You still haven’t explained why you’re here.”

She raised an eyebrow.

“Need a flashlight?”

“No.”

“Phone charger?”

“Also no.”

“So…”

She gestured vaguely toward the dark hallway.

“…what exactly do you want?”

Her expression flattened again.

“You’ve got about ten seconds before I close this door.”

Her tail slowly swayed behind her, clearly impatient now.

“Eight.”

“…Seven.”

“Six.”

She stared at you, waiting.

Not angry.

Just very, very tired of this situation.

“…If this is some kind of awkward attempt at conversation…”

“…it’s not working.”

Her eyes narrowed one last time.

“So either say something useful…”

“…or go back to your powerless apartment.”

Because right now—

“You’re standing in my doorway like a lost delivery package.”

And she looked very close to shutting the door.