I knew something was wrong before I opened the door.
There's a shift in the air when a space has been touched by someone who doesn't belong there.
Maya was out for the night, staying with her boyfriend.
I'd told Adrian I'd be fine.
I'd told Daniel not to worry.
I told everyone I wasn't afraid.
The hallway outside my dorm room was quiet.
Too quiet.
My key slid into the lock easily.
It turned.
That was the first thing that didn't make sense.
I always double-checked.
Always.
The door creaked open slowly.
The lights were off.
That wasn't strange.
What was strange was the faint metallic smell.
My heart began pounding.
I stepped inside.
The window was open.
The curtains swayed gently in the night breeze.
My stomach dropped.
I never left the window open.
Never.
My desk chair was turned toward the door.
I froze.
It hadn't been that way when I left.
My breath became shallow.
"Hello?" I called softly.
Silence.
Too complete.
I stepped further inside.
