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"Em, is that you?" I call out, but there's no answer The feeling that I'nore it, write it off as strung out nerves from the past feeeks, but when I lay back in the bubbles, I can't relax The bathrooe to lock it and hide I glance around and curse silently I usually leave my phone on the counter, but it's in the other room My pepper spray is inin here to protectiron and some hairspray

Stop it, Anna! I scold myself There's no one here

On principle, I lean back and force myself to sit in the tub for another five minutes I'm not some scared little kid who can't stay home alone I try to close my eyes, but it creeps the hell out of oose burave My throat tightens and I want to screa not tothis way I locked the front door after Cole left The s are all locked There's no way soot inside I would have heard the door split open The sound should have been loud, but it wasn't It was soft, like a paw striking the carpet

Just as I decide to get up, the floorboard outside the bathroom door creaks Instinctively, I tense My eyes widen as my pulse jumps up into heart attack territory I stare at the space between the bottom of the door and the floor - there's a shadow So there

I don'tfor Eut, I know it's not The hairs on the back ofon end Every inch of oes dry It feels like I should scream, but I can't I can't blink, I can't s I just stare at the shadow and shiver The sound of a hand resting on the doorknob echoes throughtofor Emma's voice, but it never comes