A dark shadow loomed over Star’s bed. Startled awake by a growing sense of fear she sat up to stare the darkness down. If someone found a way into her new home…

The fan in the corner of the room masked all noises but those of the rattling vertical blinds over the window. Even that sound was masked by the midnight blue throw she used as a curtain. As it turned out that throw was the dark looming figure that woke her.

With a sigh of relief Star wiped the sweat from her brow and glanced at the clock on the nightstand. 3:14 am. Sleepy eyed, she laid her head against the memory foam pillow once more.

Regardless of the discomfort the summer heat caused, Star pulled the comforter up to her chin before falling into sleep again.

******

A dark shadow loomed over Star’s bed. Startled awake again by a growing sense of fear she sat up to stare the darkness down. If someone found a way into her new home…

The fan in the corner of the room masked all noises but those of the rattling vertical blinds over the window. Even that sound was masked by the midnight blue throw she used as a curtain.

Clutching the comforter tight, Star looked to the side of the room opposite the window. The sliding closest door stood open, revealing pitch black beyond the outer edge of the hanging clothes.

Nothing appeared out of order.

Relieved, Star wiped the sweat from her brow and glanced at the clock on the nightstand. 3:58 am. Sleepy eyed, she laid her head against the memory foam pillow once more. Regardless of the discomfort the summer heat caused, Star pulled the comforter up to her chin before falling into sleep again.

******

A dark shadow loomed over Star’s bed. Startled awake again by a growing sense of fear she sat up to stare the darkness down. If someone found a way into her new home…

The fan in the corner of the room masked all noises but those of the rattling vertical blinds over the window. Even that sound was masked by the midnight blue throw she used as a curtain.

Clutching the comforter tight, Star looked to the side of the room opposite the window. The sliding closest door stood open, revealing pitch black beyond the outer edge of the hanging clothes.

Nothing appeared out of order.

Across the room from the bed a huddled black figure waited as still as a statue. Squinting hard—she had such a hard time seeing without her glasses—Star was happy to discover the figure was nothing more than her dresser.

Relieved, Star wiped the sweat from her brow and glanced at the clock on the nightstand. 4:32 am. Sleepy eyed, she laid her head against the memory foam pillow once more. Regardless of the discomfort the summer heat caused, Star pulled the comforter up to her chin before falling into sleep again.

******

At 10:39 am the police arrived at Star’s house. A friend from work was concerned when she did not show up that morning. When they saw her car still in the driveway, they knocked and rang the doorbell. After a few more tries they let themselves in.

Upon inspection of the house, one officer found Star murdered in her bed. After the coroner was called in he inspected her body, then pronounced her death at 2:46 am.

******

A dark shadow loomed over Star’s bed. Startled awake by a growing sense of fear she sat up to stare the darkness down. If someone found a way into her new home…

The fan in the corner of the room masked all noises but those of the rattling vertical blinds over the window. Even that sound was masked by the midnight blue throw she used as a curtain. As it turned out that throw was the dark looming figure that woke her.

With a sigh of relief Star wiped the sweat from her brow and glanced at the clock on the nightstand. 3:14 am.