My heart hammers against my ribs as I watch Axel and the masked intruder wrestle violently on the floor. Their limbs flail wildly as each tries to gain the upper hand, their grunts and curses filling the air.
I squint, struggling to make out the killer's face beneath that terrifying mask. The shadows twist his features into a nightmarish visage, amplifying my dread.
Axel pins the killer momentarily, slamming his head against the hard floor. The mask skews sideways, and for an instant I catch a glimpse of the killer's left eye—cold, dark, and soulless. He rips free of Axel's grasp, smashing his elbow into Axel's throat. As Axel gasps for breath, the killer scrambles towards the window.
I stand paralyzed, my heart thrashing. Axel's pained voice rasps out, "Chloe, are you okay?" Despite hi
