Seraphina walked slowly, her steps quieter than they needed to be, her fingers tightening around the thin plastic bag of dinner she had picked up on her way back from her waitress per time job which she has been using to keep herself afloat.
Every sound seemed louder tonight, the hum of the overhead lights, the distant echo of footsteps, the faint creak of doors opening and closing somewhere far off. She flinched at every sound but she told herself it was nothing.
But the feeling wouldn't leave. That crawling, suffocating awareness that something wasn't right. She reached her door and paused.
Her hand hovered over the knob. Then she pushed the door open.
Darkness greeted her. The room was silent.
Seraphina stepped in, closing the door behind her with a soft click.
Emily wasn't back yet. Good, because she needed time to think, or maybe not.
Her fingers brushed along the wall, searching for the light switch.
A hand clamped around her wrist, hard.
Before she could react, her other arm was yanked back, her body pulled sharply against something solid, the wall.
A breath caught in her throat, Cold metal pressed against her temple, a gun.
Her entire body froze. The bag slipped from her fingers, landing softly on the floor, forgotten.
"Don't scream."
The voice was low, close, right behind her ear.
Seraphina's heart slammed against her ribs, her breath coming in shallow bursts.
She couldn't turn. She couldn't think. Tears found its way down her chins.
She didn't know she was one day going to end up like the lifeless man she saw that night.
Maybe she knew, but didn't know it was going to happen so soon.
"Stay still," the voice continued, too calm, "Or this ends quickly."
Her throat tightened. She nodded instinctively.
The grip on her wrist tightened, "Good."
The word brushed against her ear like a warning. Her mind raced.
"You've been busy," the voice murmured.
Her pulse spiked.
"Mind telling me everything you know?"
Her breath hitched. No, no….
"I…I don't know what you're talking about,"
she whispered, the words barely holding together.
A soft, humorless exhale came from behind her.
"Wrong answer." The gun pressed harder against her head.
Seraphina shut her eyes tightly, her body trembling now despite her effort to stay still.
"I didn't see anything," she rushed out, the words tumbling over each other. "I don't know anything, I swear…"
"Everyone says that."
Her heart pounded louder. She was sure he could hear it.
"Listen carefully," the voice said, quieter now, more dangerous. "I know you know something and I need you to tell me everything I need to know"
The pressure of the gun shifted slightly. Just enough to remind her it was there.
"Maybe you are not ready to talk now. I will be back but when next I come, I won't be this nice Sera"
Tears burned down her eyes.
The grip on her wrist disappeared, the gun lifted. The weight behind her was gone.
Seraphina stumbled back, her breath coming in sharp, uneven gasps.
Her head snapped toward the window. A shadow moved. Before she could fully turn, the figure was already climbing out.
A blur of motion, then he was gone. The curtain swayed slightly, the window left half-open.
Cold air slipped into the room, Seraphina stood there, frozen. Her body was shaking. Her mind was struggling to catch up.
Her knees felt weak..Her hand lifted slowly to her temple, pressing against the spot where the gun had been, like she could still feel it there.
The voice didn't sound familiar. She was trying to figure out whose voice it was.
The door handle rattled. Seraphina flinched violently, spinning around, her heart jumping straight into her throat.
The door opened. Light spilled in from the hallway.
"Finally…" Emily's voice came in, casual at first, then faltering. "Why is it so dark in here?"
Seraphina didn't move.
Emily stepped inside, pushing the door shut behind her. She located the light switch and turned on the light.
"What are you doing…?"
She stopped on seeing her standing stiff in the middle of the room, pale, shaking, eyes wide like she had just seen something she couldn't unsee.
"Hey…" Emily's tone shifted immediately, concern threading through it. "Sera?"
Seraphina flinched again, Harder this time. Like the sound of her name startled her.
Emily frowned, stepping closer. "Okay, what's going on?"
Seraphina swallowed quickly, forcing her body to still.
"I'm fine." The words came out too fast.
Emily didn't buy it, "You're shaking."
"I'm not." Seraphina snapped.
"You literally just jumped when I opened the door."
"I didn't…" Seraphina lowered herself on the bed, hugging her knees..
"Sera." Emily sat beside her, "What's wrong?"
Seraphina shook her head quickly, "Nothing. I just…I was just tired."
Emily's eyes narrowed slightly, studying her, "That's not 'tired.'"
Seraphina forced a small laugh, "I said I'm fine, Em."
Silence stretched between them. Emily didn't move. She just watched her. Trying to piece something together.
"You've been acting weird," she said finally. "For days…no, for weeks now."
Seraphina looked away, "I haven't."
"You have." Emily snapped, "You keep flinching at every little noise, You barely sleep…"
"I said I'm fine." This time, the words came sharper, defensive.
Hurt flickered briefly across Emily's face..Seraphina saw it, and immediately regretted it.
"I just…" she softened her tone slightly. "I have things under control."
Emily held her gaze. After a moment, Emily exhaled quietly, shaking her head.
"Okay."
But it didn't sound like she believed it.
"Fine." She turned slightly, dropping her bag on the bed.
"But if something's going on…."
"There isn't." Seraphina interrupted her before she could finish.
Emily glanced back at her, a long piercing look. Then she sighed, "Alright."
Seraphina stayed where she was, her body slowly settling. Her eyes drifted to the window.
She wasn't safe. And the worst part?
She still didn't know who had just been in her room.
Whoever it is that was here, she was going to make sure the visit never happened again.