“And we’re coming to you live from Jefferson Park, where another body has been found. Carl, what information do u have for us?”

“Thanks, Jill. U haven’t got a lot right now, but it’s rumored that this is the same kiler from the strong of murders that have gone down recently. And it’s said the police have connected the murders to several other incidents years from years ago.”

I looked up from my laptop to glance at the television, worry lines creasing my forehead. I rarely paid any attention to the news, but not even I could miss hearing about the supposedly random killings.

For months now dead bodies had been popping up all over Chicago, and the police were no closer to solving the cases than they had been months ago. I wasn’t super worried about it, but then again, you never truly are,right?

I shook myself mentally, then turned down the volume of the television slightly, and looked back to my computer, where I was working, I had recently gotten a job as an editor, which meant i worked from home ninety percent of the time. It had been a bit of a hassle trying to explain to the management that I didn’t own a cell phone. Just a laptop and a house phone, but it worked out in the end.

I set my computer next to me on the couch and told up to stretch. I cast a look at my kitchen windows to see if had gone dark, and I looked to the time to see how long I’d been engorged in someone else’s writing.

Jeez, how is it eight already? I thought

I walked over to the windows and grabbed the curtains, ready to pull them swiftly closed, when I paused. There was someone standing out on the sidewalk in front of my apartment building. I squinted, trying to see what I was pretty sure was a man in closer detail. He was standing, just outside the cursor of light from a nearby street lamp, but there was just enough washed-out light for me to see he was staring right at me.

I jumped away from the window, violently yanking the curtains together. Immediately all I could think of was the reporter’s voice on the television from earlier.

“…where about her body has been found.”

I cast a nervous glance at my door, then walked swiftly away from the window , straight to my door, where I turned the lock shut without pause. Even if I was overreacting, I reasoned, there’s nothing wrong with locking the door. That’s a normal thing. Everyone locks the door.

Still, I stared at my yellow curtains which suddenly seemed far too cheerful. But I was being ridiculous, surely I’d just watched one too many movies, or read one too many books. It could be a guy waiting on someone who lived in the building, or it could be a guy stepping outside for a smoke break.

There were a thisand reasonably explanations, and I was only being paranoid because of what I’d watched earlier.

There was nothing to afraid of………

……….Right?

,

I headed to my bedroom to feed Balthazar; the iguana I’d had for about two years now. I scratched the inside of my arm unconsciously as I walked back to the living room, a restless feeling rearing up inside of me.

Calm down

I couldn’t help myself, and after a second of hesitation, I pulled back my kitchen curtain, bust the tiniest bit and peered out quickly. There was no sign of life, however, and the only things out there were a couple of empty cars. I stood there as if the man would materialize if I stared for long enough. After a couple seconds, I pulled away, shutting the curtains back, feeling foolish.

Strangely enough, though, the guy gone didn’t bring me any peace at all, and a part of me almost wished I could see hi. Again. At least then I’d know where he was.

You’re being ridiculous! People stand on the street all the time! You live in Chicago for God’s sake, you’re used to this!!!!

I forced myself to stop thinking about it, and I plopped down on the couch instead, throwing my feet up onto the table. I was an hour into an awful cheap comedy when there was a knock on my door.

Thump, thump!

I jolted up, staring at the door as the laugh track sounded behind me. All my fears came rushing back into me at the sound of that knock. I sat still, my hand gripping the armrest so hard my knuckles were white. My heartbeat pounded in my ears.

The knock sounded again, two quick raps that made me jump in my seat. I slid of the couch slowly, my eyes never leaving the door. I took one shaky step in the direction of the door when the knock resounded a final time, echoing in my head.

Come on, I told myself. It could be a neighbor or the landlord. Just answer the door. Theo, there’s nothin to be afraid of.

Yes, but at this time of the night? A voice whispered in the back of my head. I ignored it, took a few large strides, then got my hand of the doorknob.

Be careful. What you do now, you can’t undo. It’s not too late to turn around.

I gripped the knob and, steeling myself, threw open the door, squinting my eyes as if that would protect me from reality.

“You!!

\~\~\~

Standing in my doorway was not a ran down scary and mysterious figure, but instead Violet, my five foot three neighbor who just so happened to be my best friend.

“Hey! Sorry I was watching a movie” I gestured behind me vaguely in the direction of the TV, then stood aside to let Violet in, glad my apartment was at least clean.

“I was bored, figured I’d come check up on you.” Violet rummaged in my fridge and came out with a beer, triumphan.

Violet was a year younger than I was, but still drank way more than I did, and I think the six-pack of beer in my fridge was more for her than it was for me. We hung out most weekends, either playing video games or going to one of the bars she frequents. I rarely drank, but she could drink most grown men under the table.