Chapter 205

I reach into the nightstand for the taser I’d brought up earlier. I click it on, letting the blue light crackle in my hand for a second before switching it off and holding it at my side. It’s not like I’ll need it—probably. But I love knowing I have it.

As I descend the staircase, I hear their laughter, faint but grating, echoing through the front door. I take my time, each step deliberate, almost