Chapter 9 Nicole

• My head throbbed with the remnants of a long, frustrating day. I shouldn't have let Nicholas' words get to me, but I can't ignore them. Forcing myself to work wouldn't help, so I decided to call it a night and head home early. Besides, Nicholas wouldn't be back for hours. His usual closing time was two hours from now. I could enjoy the house alone before he comes back.
• Pushing open the front door, I was met with an unsettling silence. It is not that I was expecting anyone, but the silence was so unsettling. The usual bright glow of the house lights was absent, replaced by a dim light. A prickle of unease ran down my spine because the house was not bright enough.
• Carefully, I tiptoed further in, the floorboards creaking under my hesitant steps. In the gloom of the living room, a dark shape was in the corner. My heart beat fast as my breath caught in my throat. Someone was definitely there.