When a hand touched yours in the darkness of the basement stairwell, time seemed to stop.
You were supposed to be alone.
You were supposed to be alone and someone was gently running their nails over the back of your hand.
You were supposed to be alone and someone was gently breathing slightly out of sync with you.
The lights down there rarely worked but you'd never cursed them so much as you did that moment.
That moment when the nails stopped stroking your hand and instead held your hand.
They began to pull you down and,much as you resisted, they were far stronger.
As soon as you reached the basement itself,the hand pulled you towards an old sofa in the corner.
It was still too dark to see them but they sure as hell weren't human.
When you were seated it threw a blanket over you, crouched beside you and continued to hold your hand.
You felt a thousand questions burning in your mind but before you could ask - the stairs creaked.
The stairs groaned under the weight of something immensely heavy, whispering your name into the dark.
Again, you were supposed to be alone and now you were in the company of two creatures.
One had yet to harm you and the other seemed intent on finding you.
The hand holding yours tightened comfortingly as you both held your breath.
Heavy steps methodically worked their way around the basement, passing you by several times.
After what felt like hours it headed back up the stairs.
You faintly heard it walk out the back door, slamming it shut as it left and the hand holding yours went lax.
Both of you heaved sighs of relief as the blanket was lifted.
A light bulb was gently placed in your pocket and you were led back the the stairs.
You turned around as soon as it let go, barely catching a glimpse of matted fur slinking back into the dark.
After closing the door to the basement you chose to not lock it, though you did lock the windows and doors.
Neither creature ever returned but you felt that they were both very much present.
You simply made sure to never be alone in the house again.
Just in case.
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