Round 2

In the kitchen, Jeane gripped her lamp base tightly, her knuckles white with tension as The Force's footsteps drew closer. The sound of creaking floorboards echoed through the hallway like a gunshot, punctuated by the deliberate, slow steps of an unseen intruder. Jeane's eyes darted around the kitchen, searching for escape routes and potential obstacles, her heart pounding in her chest.

The Force moved cautiously upstairs, gun at the ready, checking each room with a practiced efficiency. The guest room and linen closet were empty, but the bathroom door was slightly ajar, and the bedroom door stood open, revealing a darkened space. The Force's movements were silent, almost feline, as she padded down the hallway, her eyes scanning the shadows for any sign of movement.

Jeane's voice was steady, though laced with desperation, as she called out to the intruder. "Whoever you are, get out! I have a weapon and I'm not afraid to use it!" The Force paused at the top of the stairs, her head cocked slightly to one side, listening intently for any response.