Home After Dark Novels & Stories

The city is loud below. He shows me his phone. Security feed from last night. Someone in a black hoodie slipped past the guards at 3 :12 a.m . Left the coffin. Walked out like they owned the place. I feel sick. “They were inside again,” I whisper. Julian’s arm tightens around me. “Not anymore. I fired the whole team. New ones start today.” I lean into him. “It’s not enough.” He kisses my hair. “It will be.” My phone buzzes.

Becca's Pov It was nearly 6pm when I got to Ken’s flat. His car was in the driveway so I knew he was home. I still had my key so I let myself in. I could hear noises coming from the bedroom so I headed that way. I hoped I would find him coming out of the shower, if so I would give him such a good time he would forget all talk of breaking up. I entered the bedroom, then fell back against the wall with a gasp. Ken, the guy I had been dating for a year, the love of my life, was on top of another woman, moaning like his life depended on it. My gasp was so loud that it startled them. They pulled away from each other and he looked round stunned, then frowned in annoyance.

He didn’t step out. “I’ll see you around,” he murmured. And with one last unreadable look, he exited into the hallway and disappeared. Elara remained frozen, barely breathing. The elevator doors slid shut again, carrying her up toward safety, if safety was even real anymore. Her new apartment was small but clean. Warm. Soft yellow lighting filled the room, the kind of light that made people feel safe. A half-open box of baby supplies sat in the corner. A photo of her father on the mantle.

Stephanie's mind raced with a sense of urgency. She knew she had to intervene before the situation spiraled out of control. Determined, she reminded herself, "I need to do something before it all gets out of hand." Meanwhile, Jayden arrived home to find the house enveloped in darkness. Concern etched his face as he flicked on the light switch, illuminating the space. His footsteps echoed softly as he made his way to their bedroom. As he entered, he noticed Lena sleeping peacefully, her breathing steady and calm. The sight brought a small sense of relief to his troubled mind.

They each got into their respective cars and drove away from the scene. When they arrived home, it was already past 11:15 PM. Sneaking into the villa, they found the lights dimmed, indicating that sleep had already claimed the household. "Finished with your nightly escapades?" their father's voice emerged from the darkness, catching them in the act. Both of them puffed their cheeks, knowing they had been caught by their dad. Dareen emerged from the shadows and stood before his boys.

I turn back on Farm Of Death just in time to see a scarecrow come to life and chase a couple through the corn maze with a machete. My eyes grow heavy just before I make it to the end credits, Max is already asleep curled at my feet. When my eyes open again, it’s to the sound of him barking. I mute the TV and find him at the back door, the night pitch black, the moon quarter full in the sky above. Something triggers the flood lights in the back yard, though it’s not uncommon with all the deer around here. I stumble to the kitchen and peer out. I don’t see anything. The glow on the stove tells me it’s just past two a.m.

Nothing remained. No blood. No broken pieces. No sign that only hours earlier, a little girl had flown through the air and fallen there. Only the streetlight still shone, its yellow glow falling across the empty crosswalk. Dad stared at that patch of road for a long time. "Let's go," Mom said softly. Dad came back to himself and started the car again. When they got home, everything was exactly as it had been. The two Barbie dolls, one new and one cracked, still sat on the coffee table. Beside them was the cake box that no one had put away, and the slice of strawberry cake left for me. The air still smelled faintly sweet.

Lara recalled the cluster of security men converging on the helipad, blurred glimpses of an incredibly large white villa, and heat that only increased the nonstop pounding behind her temples. Jet lag had finally caught up with her. A rueful grimace slanted her face as she gingerly slid out of bed to gratefully appreciate that the ground beneath her feet was no longer rocking. It was dark outside. Locating the bedside light, Lara glanced at her watch. “8 pm… Are you kidding me?” The housekeeper, at least Lara assumed the warm, matronly woman who had come to her assistance was the housekeeper, had been a merciful savior. She had taken charge, banishing Christophe and helping Lara to bed.

" She says and I shake my head. The Film is based off a Horror novel; BEFORE DARK. Katie already read the book. She's a basic nerd which is understandable since she's a Writer. I only read it well tried to when Voltage brought the contract to me. "Haven't you already read the book?" I question. I push my empty plate forward then wrapped my finger around my glass of milk. "Yeah but I still don't want you spoiling the movie for me." She says with a shrug. I roll my eyes.

I was not trying to impress my brother. After dinner, we watched a horror flick in the movie house. I loved horror films, but then again, I usually slept in a room with two other girls in it. I didn’t have to worry about the boogeyman hiding under the bed. But it was too late. I had already chosen the movie before I realized I now slept in an almost empty estate. Zachary noticed my grim expression as we were lining up for popcorn. “Are you okay?” he asked. I nodded. “Yeah. Something just crossed my mind.”