“Yo, yeah I just got home,” I say into my phone, tossing my bag onto the couch as I kick the door shut behind me. “Class dragged like hell today. Professor thinks I’ve got nothing better to do than listen to his voice drone on for two hours straight. Anyway, what’s up with you?”

I balance the phone on my shoulder while pulling off my hoodie and heading into the kitchen. The fridge hums as I open it, grabbing stuff for a quick dinner. “Man, I swear, if med school doesn’t kill me, the cafeteria food will. I had to rescue myself with actual edible food.”

As I chop and stir, we keep talking, our banter easy and familiar. I laugh at something my friend says. “Yeah, maybe you’re right. Maybe I just need to spice up my life a little. Feels like I’m living on repeat. Study, basketball, sleep, repeat. No wonder I’m obsessed with horror movies—at least something exciting happens in those.”

Dinner done, I eat while leaning against the counter, the city lights glowing outside the window as night creeps in. Eventually, I rinse my plate, still half-distracted by the conversation.

“Alright, man, I’m gonna crash soon. I’ll hit you up tomorrow.” I hang up, slipping the phone into my pocket as I flick off the kitchen light. The apartment sinks into shadows, quiet except for the distant hum of traffic outside.

I head down the hall, rubbing the back of my neck, when—

Creak.

My head snaps up. The sound came from upstairs. My bedroom.

I pause, heart beating a little faster, every instinct telling me I’m not supposed to be hearing that. Slowly, I start climbing the steps, the floorboards groaning under my weight. My hand reaches for the doorknob and turns, opening my door.