Chapter 34
Olivia is standing in the doorway of the cabin; she can’t decide whether it feels safe or unsafe to sleep here alone after what happened to Filippa. However, she couldn’t face staying in the main house with the guys. Being there was no consolation; the atmosphere was weird.
She steps inside and makes sure she locks the door behind her.
She didn’t bother yesterday, because she thought Filippa might stagger in during the night. Right now it feels vital to make sure that no one can get in, although she can’t explain why.
To be on the safe side, she goes around and checks that all the windows are closed and secured; then she crawls into bed without brushing her teeth. She makes a little nest under the covers and curls up in the fetal position.
If only Filippa were here.
The room is pitch black when Olivia wakes up. How long has she been asleep? She doesn’t know.
She fumbles for her phone to check the time, but before she finds it, she hears a faint squeaking, a sound that doesn’t belong in a cabin where she is the only occupant.
That must have been what woke her.
Someone is trying to get in.
Olivia sits up, listens hard. She is pretty certain that the sound is coming from the front door, as if someone is slowly pushing down the handle.
Her heart starts racing, her mouth goes dry. She is too scared to switch on the bedside lamp, but she slips out of bed and creeps over to the window.
She cautiously peeps out, and at first she can’t see anything.
It takes a little while for her eyes to get used to the darkness.
Then she becomes aware of a shadow that shouldn’t be there.
She is at an odd angle from her position by the window frame, and the light is too poor to make out anything other than vague contours, but there is definitely someone by the door.
Olivia can’t take her eyes off the unknown figure. Time is passing both slowly and quickly.
The person turns around. She can’t distinguish the facial features, yet she has a strong sense of something familiar.
And then the shadow melts into the night and disappears.