Round 9

As Jeane stood frozen in the kitchen, her eyes fixed on the dark hallway, the sound of footsteps echoed through the room once more. The intruder was closing in, their presence a palpable force that seemed to fill the space. The heavy lamp base trembled in her hand, its weight a comforting reminder of her only defense. She had memorized every inch of this house, every creaking floorboard and hidden corner, but tonight it felt like a maze designed to trap her.

The Force moved with calculated precision, her flashlight beam dancing down the dark hall as she approached the kitchen. The air was heavy with tension, the only sound the soft groan of the floorboards beneath her feet. She had confirmed the intruder's presence, and now she was ready to face them. The brass lamp base felt substantial in her hand, its weight a reassuring presence as she took a step forward, her eyes locked on the kitchen where Jeane waited.