15 Hilltop Drive

Flash Fiction, by C.J. Heck

15 Hilltop Drive
Flash Fiction (203 words)
by C.J. Heck

Home alone, the sound of breaking glass wrenched Carly from sleep. Fear in icy tendrils prickled the nape of her neck, yanking the wisps of hair and standing them on end.

Moonlight filtered through the curtains gave the only light, so Carly had to trust what she could hear …

… someone was in her house!

Perspiration beaded her forehead, little runnels slipping down between her breasts, soaking the front of her nightgown.

The intruder was on the stairs. Carly tip-toed to the doorway to listen. They creaked as he stepped on each one.

(There … There, again. There … )

In the hallway, a shot rang out. The bold flash punched a hole in the darkness, blinding Carly. Her ears were stunned to silence as a scream tore from her throat.

She waited in the hushed gloom, her eyes adjusting to the moonlight.

Carly crept into the hall. The air was thick with the smell of burnt gunpowder and blood and smoke clung to her like a shroud.

Afraid of the dark, but more afraid of turning on a light, she picked up her phone and dialed.

“Nine-One-One. What is your emergency?”

“15 Hilltop Drive. Please hurry. I’ve just shot an intruder.”

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