Zenon's Game Chapter 243

Inside was the gift I was meant to give him on New Year's. Cynthia had brought it all the way to Dubai for a surprise that never happened. But I hadn't given up on showing Zenon.

"Nothing," I answered as innocently as possible, squeezing my legs together so he couldn't see inside the bag.

I was going to save it for the right moment. He smirked and opened the door to get our bags from out back. He didn't ask anymore questions.

I hid my yawn behind my open hand as I pushed open the car door. I was feeling so tired. We thanked the uber driver who muttered something about our dirty clothes, before driving away.

Zenon saw how tired I looked and said encouragingly, "You're almost there."

He carried my bags and took me to my door first. I saw the garden gnome sitting outside the front door and gave it a little stroke. I missed gnomey.

"Keys?" Zenon asked, before he said in realization, "I really hope that..."

He pushed the door and it swung open.

"OK," he said, "Still not locking the door."

I peered into my home, feeling a coldness from the lack of heating. All the lights were off, and it didn't look like anyone was home. It didn't look like anyone had been home for a few days.

"Are you sure you don't want to come to my place instead?" he offered.

"No, I'm fine here," I said, convincingly.

I hope it was convincing. Just in case, I forced a smile for good measure. That's got to be convincing, right?

"Whatever you want Candy," he said, unconvinced, "I'll be across the street if you need me."

I watched him go, picking his bags and walking across the street. If I know my boyfriend, I know he's going straight to the shower.

~9.05 PM~

I woke up, thinking it was the middle of the night. I didn't realize I'd fallen asleep.

I looked at the screen: 9.05 PM

That's going to mess up my sleep schedule.

I checked my phone and saw a missed call from Zenon and a couple texts. I lay back in bed and lazily perused the messages:

Hey, I heard you're back. Free to meet up? – Jake

Have you eloped??? We need to debrief Dubai, Axel and Zenon – Cynthia

Surprisingly, I also saw Instagram notifications. I didn't expect that. I tapped the icon, saw that Oma had posted pictures of us and then noticed a friend request from...

"Bianca?!" I said out loud.

I heard a loud sound downstairs. My sister and mom weren't home so I wondered who that could be. A raccoon?

"Zenon," I called out.

Zenon was worried about me. I saw his expression when he left my house and I'd missed his call this afternoon. I called his number from my bed.

"Hey," he answered in his deep voice.

"I'm upstairs," I said, feeling nervous about my next words, "In bed."

It was an invitation. No one else was home tonight so we could spend the night together.

"Same," Zenon answered, relaxed.

I froze.

A feeling of dread dropped into my stomach. I listened to the sounds downstairs. Dreaded and daunting. My heart thudded as I heard footsteps coming up the stairs. Slow and steady.

I sat upright..

"If you're in your bed," I whispered, staring at my closed bedroom door, "Then who's in my house?"

The only light in the room was coming from my phone's screen. Zenon was speaking to me on the other line, but I couldn't hear anything. Just the sound of my own heart, beating in fear. I heard the footsteps - slow and steady - treading up the stairs.

A stranger's cold-hearted steps in my home.

Every second lasted a lifetime.

The feeling of dread weighed like a stone in my chest. The rest of the world felt like light years away and I was alone. Terribly alone.

"Candace?" Zenon called my name through the phone.

I was breathing rapidly and still failing to get enough air.

"There's someone in my house," I whispered, slowly peeling the covers off my bed, "I'm in my room. Please come."

I put the phone on silent and dimmed the screen. I didn't want to attract attention to my room.

A stranger had broken into my house and I tried to think of rational alternatives to calm my mind. Maybe mom or Heidi had returned home? Maybe the blackmailer wanted to stop by and apologize?

I wasn't planning on sticking around to find out.

My hands were shaking as I got up, not wanting to let go of my bedsheets. I left my slippers by the bed and tip toed across the room, as stealthy as I could be, while I listened to the sounds in the hallway.

The slippers weren't good for stealth mode-

The stairway creaked as the intruder reached the top step.

And kept walking.

Whoever it was, was coming to my room. I could feel it. Every step felt like a violation that I could do nothing about. It made me angry but, at the same time, utterly defenseless.

Is the closet a good place to hide?

Maybe if Narnia's inside.

Oh, flippety flip. Why did I even come to this side of the room? Closets are such an obvious hiding place...

It's unoriginal. Why can't I take action? Shouldn't I move? I'm running out of choices here. My room doesn't have many places to hide.

Please Zenon. Hurry.

I never pictured myself in a horror movie. But as I stood in the darkness of my bedroom, listening to the footsteps outside, I felt like this was it.

This is how I'm going.

Goodbye to everyone I have ever loved. My garden gnomes, who I have neglected lately. The raccoon I once saved – may you be living carefree and remember me fondly.

Terrified.

I'm beyond scared. I need the toilet. Is that my last thought? I should spend the last few minutes of my life pondering the meaning of life or something.