Serena's eyes snapped open in the darkness. A chilling sensation ran down her spine—someone was here, inside the house. She could feel it, an unshakable certainty settling in her gut. Holding her breath, she remained still, her body tense as she listened, straining to catch even the faintest sound. The silence was thick, oppressive, but she knew better than to trust it.
Then, without warning, a hand clamped over her mouth.
Her eyes widened in shock. How was this possible? She hadn't heard a single sound, no footsteps, no creak of a door—nothing. And yet, someone had reached her. How was that possible? She was no light sleeper who would easily let their guard down. Her body tensed.
Serena's breath hitched as the rough palm pressed firmly against her mouth. Her heart pounded, each beat loud in her ears. Before she could react, a low voice murmured near her ear, steady and unhurried.
"Are you going to try and break my hand, or do something else?"
