by Jessica Rigden

Created on: October 28, 2010   Last Updated: November 01, 2010

She walked briskly along the dark side walk, the cold night air rushing against her face. She turned round the corner of the long street and felt the first patters of rain, cold against her. Charlotte pushed the door open and got into the sparkling lift opposite. She pressed in the number 23 and stood still as the lift rushed past the other floors. Arriving within a matter of moments, for no one ever got in the lift a that time of night, Charlotte walked smartly along, her heels making loud tapping noises across the red carpet and rounded the corner where the entrance to her apartment was.

The door to her apartment was half open and the shiny black paint reflected the bright light switched on in the small living room. The TV was on, the characters moving around the large screen, though there was no sound. Charlotte tucked her light brown hair behind her ears in order to look through the door further inside. She wondered who had left the door ajar and her heart began to beat slightly faster under her pale green uniform. Walking inside, with her heels tapping softly on to her cream carpet, she creaked the door shut behind her. Charlotte called out into the seemingly empty flat. Her voice pierced the silence. There was no answer and this was as she expected and hoped. She tapped across the soft carpet, into the living room. Charlotte went over to the black TV opposite the creamy sofas and pressed the grey button until the actors disappeared into the blackness of the screen.

She felt relief wash over her as she realised her worrying had been silly. Her flatmate worked nights in a care home and had obviously woken up late again and had forgotten about the door. Then came the discreet sound of footsteps padded by carpet crossing the hall. She twisted her head over her shoulder, her heart beat increasing in speed once more. The door was open. Fear shot through her like a bullet and her heart beat faster and faster, punching against her rib cage. In the reflection of the paint she saw a tall dark shadow fleeing round the corner at speed towards the exit.

She ran out into the hall shaking uncontrollably and shoved the heavy door shut with a thud. Charlotte glanced back towards the opposite end of her flat. Upon the floor were strange dark spots, near the entrance to one of the bedrooms. Coming nearer, the wooden floor in that bedroom showed her the reality of what these spots were. Blood. It trailed into the room following them. This bedroom was small in comparison

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>