Chapter 168 - Crossroads

Noah

Swallowing the lump of fear rising in my throat, I slowly pushed the door open. Every sense was on high alert. The apartment was eerily quiet. Nothing seemed out of place at first glance. But that didn’t calm the growing dread in my chest.

"Hello?" I called out, my voice trembling slightly. Silence greeted me in return.

I stepped inside, my hand instinctively clutching my phone in case I needed to call for help. Each step felt heavier than the last as I moved further into the living room.

I scanned every corner for signs of an intruder. But everything seemed normal. Almost too normal.

Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a flicker of movement near the kitchen. My heart leapt into my throat. My fingers fumbled through my purse until I grasped the cool metal of the pepper spray. I carried it with me ever since the Blackwoods incidents.

Before I could pull it out, a voice suddenly called, "Surprise!"

I froze in place, blinking rapidly as my brain caught up to what had just happe