There was a lot about the COVID-19 virus that wasn’t understood. For the health of the general population, being put on lockdown was completely understandable. But knowing the reason and even agreeing with it doesn’t make it any easier to endure.<br><br>Clay is beginning to feel the mental strain of being at home all the time. He is sick of his furniture, sick of his books, and sick of everything else in his bubble world. That’s the reason he sneaks out to go for nocturnal walks around the neighbourhood. And he isn’t the only one. One evening, he begins to regret he ever left the house.<br><br>As walks past an abandoned wreck of a building in a very unsavoury part of town at night, he gets a sense he is no longer alone. He picks up the pace and hurries away, but no matter what he does, he can’t shake the feeling someone, or something, is following him. He calls out into the darkness and immediately regrets it. Rather than knowing if anyone is there, he’d much rather know if he’s going to make it home or not.

The Visitor

“You’re—” he swallowed hard. In his voice, a tone of disbelief “—gonna rapeme?”


Vincent laughed. “No, but it’s a possibility, isn’t it? One you obviously hadn’t considered.”


Clay had one foot on the floor, ready to fight or flee.


“I hadn’t considered you breaking in to do the dishes, either,” he said, not quite believing what was coming out of his mouth. Shock, probably.


Clay’s heart was pounding like the devil on your door. He put out an arm, ready to defend himself.


“You stay where you are,” he said, hearing the quiver in his voice. “The police’ll be here any minute.”


Vincent took one more step. He was now inches from the bed.


“You stay rightthere!” Clay shouted. “I’m warning you!”


Clay opened his mouth to respond, then realised the intruder was right. In his panic he had dropped the phone without dialling. Shit!


Chapter 3