Page 6 of The Guy Next Door

About half a foot shorter than me.

Pale face.

Dirty-blond hair.

Steel-blue eyes.

That creep from next door?

What. The. Fuck?

I’ve barely had the thought before he drags me into the closet, leaving the door ajar, so some of the room light spills in.

It’s just the two of us, breathing intensely.

I’m still shaking. Or is he shaking? Are we both shaking?

He tugs me close to his body.

I don’t feel the gun, but I imagine he’s got it aimed at my head, maybe planning to finish me off now.

My mind runs through scenarios of what he’s gonna do to me.

Maybe kill me.

Maybe do some other terrible things to me before killing me.

That’s what he has to do now that I’ve seen him, right?

Why the fuck did he pull me into a closet? No one’s here. He could just as easily do whatever he wants to me in the bedroom.

“Stay in here.” His hot breath hits my ear, and I gulp and nod. “I’m gonna go check and see if they’re still here.”

I barely process the words before he rushes out, quietly closing the door behind him.

Well, that wasn’t what I was expecting…

I figured he would beat the shit out of me, sexually assault me…do something vile that I hadn’t had time to consider…

But he left me in here…for reasons I can’t imagine.

My heartbeat is in a frenzy, my nerves on edge, all my survival impulses telling me:get out of this alive.

It takes a few moments, but his words come back to me:“I’m gonna go check and see if they’re still here.”

The shadow in the backyard. Was someone else here? Did Zane come by to make sure I was okay?

No, this isn’t how someone reacts to their neighbor having a burglar in their house.

Not even a little.

I press my ear against the door, listening out for him. A few moments pass before I hear a familiarcreakdown the hall. I recognize that creak; it’s from inside my parents’ bedroom.

Just stay in here like he told you.

But my phone is still charging on my nightstand, and maybe if I can get to it, I can call the police. This could be my only chance to make a break for it.

Still shaking, I turn the doorknob slowly, hoping I won’t make too much noise. I’m equally cautious about opening the door.