Page 33 of The Guru: Shadow

Now, the door stood wide open.

I would’ve noticed. Heard it. Or not? Or did I forget the door last night in the rush of whatever happened and just didn’t realize?

Slipping out from under the sheets, she tip-toed to the door frame, her heart skipping a beat from the fear crawling up in her. All her muscles tensed, as something in her mind expected him to stand behind the door and attack her.

Very slowly, she leaned forwards, peering into the living room.

But it was empty.

That moment, Pi brushed against her leg and made her shriek a bit.

Maybe it was Pi. Maybe he wanted to be cuddled or something.

Just to be sure, she went to the apartment door to check if it was locked. The fear nagging at her chest made her nervously glance behind her back, but the room was empty like an outskirt subway platform in the predawn hours.

The door, however, was not locked.

I always lock the damn door.

Could it be? Would he break into my apartment, while I made it to myself and then leave?

For sure, he had better things to do, and she would have noticed. She would’ve heard the door click.

Would I, though?

Em. Calm down. Last night is messing with your head.

One more reason to get him out of my mind as fast as possible.

So she locked the door, its soft click resounding through the apartment.

It should calm me, right?

Only the tension did not leave her.

A shower. Go take a shower. It always helps.

As she entered the unlit bathroom, that dreaded sense of foreboding filled her chest, her heart beating fast within.

Switching on the light, she half expected someone to jump at her.

But no one did. The room, in fact, was empty.

Of course, it was. Get a grip on yourself.

And as she slipped into the shower, turning on the water, she tried, really tried to release the fear and tension rushing through her. But her whole body was on alarm, imagining noises between the sound of the rushing water, making her even stop the water here and there, just to listen if someone was moving outside the bathroom.

I’m becoming paranoid.

On top of everything else.

Little did she know, she was not.

9

DEIS

PLAYLIST: I AM WHO I AM - UNIONS