Page 27 of Light

But standing there in the low light of my living room, watching the way Light looks at me like I'm something worth protecting, I can't make myself move away.

I tuck the blanket tightly onto the couch, giving myself something to do. Something to focus on.

"You’re not sleeping outside," I mutter.

Light grins, slow and easy. "Didn’t plan to."

I roll my eyes. "You're lucky I’m too tired to throw you out."

He chuckles, that low, delicious sound that makes my toes curl in my socks.

"You sure you don’t want me to sleep in your bed?" he teases lightly, voice dropping just enough to send a shiver down my spine.

I whip around and toss the pillow at him, hitting him square in the chest.

He catches it, laughing under his breath.

"You’re incorrigible," I grumble, but I can’t stop the smile pulling at my lips.

He watches me, eyes darker now, the joking fading just enough that the air between us thickens.

"Goodnight, Light," I say quickly, before I do something stupid.

"Goodnight, beautiful," he says, voice rough, warm, full of something dangerous I can’t afford to touch.

I rush toward my bedroom without looking back.

If I looked at him for one more second, I knew I would do something stupid.

Like ask him to follow me down the hall.

Eight

Light

It's beena long time since I've actively run toward screaming.

But hers.

Melissa's bloodcurdling scream has me jumping off the couch and taking off in her direction like a bat out of hell.

"Melissa!" I shout.

"Mommy!" Tyler screams from his room and I watch as his door swings open and he darts out into the hall.

"Back in the room!" I order him. He startles but then does what I ask.

I race toward Melissa who is stumbling out of her room. She collides right into my chest and I wrap my arms around her. "Tyler? Is Tyler okay?" She hiccups through the tears that are already streaming down her face.

"He's fine. What's wrong? What happened?" I lean down and hold her shoulders to keep her from moving.

"Someone..." She takes a breath, calming herself. "Someone was at my window, they were trying to get in."

Not on my fucking watch.

"Stay here. I'll be right back." I let go of her and try to take a step back but she grabs hold of my shirt.

"No, leave it. They're probably gone."

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