A shrill scream escapes my throat, my eyes tightly shut in horror.
“Melody? Melody!”
The deep raspy voice penetrates through my fear.
I open my eyes, momentarily disoriented. My gaze focuses on the familiar gaunt face of my landlord.
I jerk away from him, suddenly conscious of my semi-naked state. His translucent blue eyes seem to take in my appearance in an unhurried sweep that sends chills down my spine.
“Wh... What are you doing here?” I stammer, slowly putting some distance between us. “How... How did you get in here? The door....”
“The door was open,” Jack interrupts, his thin mouth pulling up in a slow smile, revealing his slightly yellowed teeth.
Jack is a twenty-seven-year-old divorcee who recently inherited the apartment building where I stay from his mother. He doesn’t stay in the apartment building but sometimes comes around for maintenance checks.
There is an eeriness about him that always puts me on edge every time.
Or maybe it’s because I once heard Mrs. Albert, one of the tenants, telling her friend that Jack was once a druggie and convicted for rape, too.
Anyway, I’ve always done my best to avoid him.
I glance at my lock again, my brows pulling up in a slight frown of confusion.
I could have sworn that I locked the door. But how did Jack come into my room then? I raise my eyes to Jack’s again, swallowing nervously.
“Wh... What do you want?” I ask again.
“I was going around for maintenance checks, and I saw that your door was open,” Jack replies with a slight shrug. “I was worried. Do you need anything repaired?”
I quickly shake my head. “No. No... I don’t need anything.”
Please, leave!
Jack nods, slowly looking around my room as if he has all the time in the world.
His gaze returns to mine, his smirk widening creepily. “You shouldn’t leave your door open like that. You never know what kind of danger lurks in the dark.”
I shiver slightly at the insinuating undertone in his voice. “Th...thank you,” I mutter, lowering my eyes from his.
Jack nods and heads out the door, but not before throwing one last meaningful glance over his shoulder.
I quickly bolt the door behind him, placing my hand against my chest to regulate my heartbeat.
I sag weakly against the door behind me, my shampoo bottle hanging limply between my fingers.
What the hell just happened?