The fading moon swayed against the dark sky, eclipsing over the landscape, sinking its teeth into the Earth. The sun was already past the horizon, the twilight fading into black, and soon enough all there was the moon and stars. Watching silently by the window, I gazed deeply at the world above me. Witnessing the utter blackness of the Universe, illuminated only by the moon and the stars, was indescribable. Suddenly, a noise erupted the silence. The unmistakable creak of wooden floorboards echoed in the air, like the house was screaming. I hadn't moved. I held my breath and waited for another noise. Nothing; all I could hear was the pounding of my heart. I closed my eyes and let out a sigh of relief, but that didn't stop the feeling of anxiety rushing through me. Creak. Creak. Creak. Creak. The creaks of the floorboards came in a steady rhythm; it was the pattern of someone walking. Someone was in the house. My first thought that came to mind was; a killer, there's a killer in my house. I knew the killer would tear me to shreds and torture me with as much pain as I could bear before I die-they would want me for money. Creak. Creak. Creak. This time, it was louder. Someone was coming. My heartbeat sped up as I stood up. I clutched onto my shirt, wringing it with my fists in panic. I slowly moved backwards, away from the door and the window, which were the only two ways for the intruder to get in. My feet dragged along the carpet, creating a rustling sound as I edged for the back of the room. I kept looking at the door, waiting anxiously for a shadow to appear. My little sister. It was the second probability that came to mind. Sierra could be really annoying. She probably snuck away from her friend's house and came over here. Creak. Smash! The sound of breaking glass rung in the air, like an alarm. The only glass in this part of the house was the family picture hanging up in my sister's room down the hall. The neighbours, I thought, probably the neighbours down the road; they never liked me, the neighbours son always seemed to torment me in one way or another; this was probably a prank. He most likely climbed through my sister's window. Creak. The intruder was advancing. I made a shallow sigh of relief; I knew where the intruder was. They were in my sister's room, but that's down the hall. I shuffled further back, away from the door. As my back made contact with the corner of the room, it made a light thump. Light, but still audible amongst the intruder’s footsteps. What about my brother? He was off at university. He probably came back home. Although every time he comes home, he always yells really loudly as a signal that he's home. Creak. The intruder was probably in the hall right now. If they checked my brother's room, they would've checked the next one beside it, I thought. I unclenched my sweaty hands as I heard the loud bang of a door opening. My theory had been correct; they would look through every room down the hall, and my one was the last but the one the intruder was in now was Sierra's room. She demanded that her room was to be locked at all times, so we let her. The intruder knew how to unlock doors. I knew 4 people who could do that. There was Sierra-my little sister, Brooklyn-my little sister's best friend, Savannah-my best friend, and Aaliyah-my old friend. Creak. Creak. The intruder would go into the next room. Mine. The creaking became louder, and I could see the intruder's silhouette underneath the crack in the door. Gulping, I squeezed my eyes shut and waited for the inevitable. The door would open and reveal the intruder. Then, a rustle came from the door lock. The intruder had to unlock the door. I slid down the cold wall and curled in on myself, trying to calm myself down. I hugged my knees to my chest and began praying to God, hoping he would stop this. Click. The door was open. Light filtered in past the shadow of the intruder, I wouldn't open my eyes. I couldn't bear to know who the intruder was. The intruder walked towards me. I could feel the tense atmosphere. I was holding my breath and squeezing my eyes shut. The intruder was so close. I felt someone tap my shoulder and I jumped up, startled. My little sister was running around, screaming for everybody to wake up. My mom was yelling for her to be quiet and my grandma was probably still asleep. A painful pulsing throbbed in my head and my vision was blurry. This is what staying up all night on my phone does to me.
