The news warned her. The sound at 2 a.m. confirmed it. Would you open the door—or hide in the shadows?
First Line (grab hold):
Alice jolted awake at 2 a.m. to the unmistakable sound of her doorknob twisting.
Starting Paragraph
The 11 p.m. news still echoed in her mind—the anchor’s solemn voice describing the “Night Stalker,” a serial killer who preyed only on single women living alone. Alice had checked her locks twice before climbing into bed, assuring herself she was safe. Yet now, the metallic rattle from the front door turned her blood cold. She froze, straining to hear. It wasn’t the wind, not the house settling—someone was there. A slow, deliberate jiggle, followed by silence. Then again, sharper this time, as though testing her resolve as much as the lock. Every instinct screamed to call the police, but her phone sat charging in the kitchen—too many steps away. She thought of the kitchen knives, the back window, the long wait until dawn. Her mind raced: should she stay silent and hope the lock held, or take action before the intruder did? The room pressed in, each second stretching thin with terror. The doorknob rattled once more—harder.
