The blackout swallowed the apartment whole. One second, the lights were flickering, and the next—darkness.I froze in the middle of the living room, heart hammering. The air conditioner clicked off, leaving only the sound of rain pounding against the windows. Somewhere outside, a car door slammed.No.I reached for my phone on the table, fumbling in the dark. The screen lit up the room with a cold, blue glow. No signal. Of course.“Come on, come on,” I whispered, trying again, but the spinning icon mocked me. My fingers trembled as I backed toward the kitchen, where I kept a small knife in the drawer—not because I expected to need it, but because this city didn’t give you many reasons to feel safe.A noise came from the hallway. The floor creaked—slow, careful steps.My stomach turned to ice.I held my breath, every muscle tense. Then, just as I reached for the knife, a knock echoed through the door. Not loud. Just two soft, deliberate taps.No one knocked like that in this neighborho
Last Updated : 2025-10-30 Read more