A Constant Shadow

Liam's P.O.V.

A loud knock jolted me awake.

I shot up in bed, heart pounding against my ribs. My room was dark except for the faint light of the alarm clock. 2:56 AM. Another knock, weak and slow, echoed through the quiet house.

"Liam?" Becky's groggy voice came from the next room. A moment later, her door creaked open, and she appeared in the hallway, rubbing sleep from her eyes. "Did you hear that?"

I swallowed hard, the unease tightening in my chest. "Yeah."

Neither of us moved for a second, listening. The wind howled outside, and rain pattered against the windows. Another knock.

Becky frowned. "Who the hell—"

She didn't finish. We both knew no one sane would be knocking on our door at this hour.

Cautiously, we descended the stairs, each creak of the wooden steps making my nerves prickle. When we reached the door, Becky hesitated before unlocking it.