Chapter Text
This evening was particularly unpleasant for the homeowner. FEMA had taken away two people again, this time the guy in red shirt who had invited the homeowner to have a beer with him sometime while watching football, and a fortune teller who kept talking about magic numbers and other weird things. Curses and fists seemed useless; the men in suits were brazenly dragging people out one after another. The man rubbed his eyes tiredly, irritation giving way to exhaustion. He wasn't obligated to look after these people, but he had given them shelter, right? That seemed like a small way of taking responsibility for them. There was a deliberately slow and distinct knock on the door, and the homeowner reluctantly trudged toward it, his eyes widened in horror. It was that terrifying pale visitor. But who was left? There must be someone left, right? The man froze at the door, remembering all his guests, the ones he'd had and the ones FEMA had taken. Right. The guy from the mental hospital. That creepy guy Timofey, he's still in the pantry. The homeowner exhaled, looking through the peephole "What do you need?"
"Oh, how unwelcoming," came a familiar hoarse voice from behind the door. The visitor smiled creepily "Didn't you miss me?"
The homeowner frowned, trying to keep his voice firm and stern "There are more pleasant things I could miss. Now what do you want? Or are you just coming here to watch me?"
"Watch? Nooo, did you really think that?" visitor chuckled and leaned against the door. The homeowner thought he could hear the monster's breathing. Visitor spoke almost in a whisper, a smirk evident in his voice "But it seems someone really is doing it. I saw a silhouette in your windows; it seems he was wandering around your house"
The man shuddered, his chest filling with anxiety.
"What?... What are you talking about..." the homeowner whispered through the door.
The visitor smiled contentedly, continuing to speak "You know, I don't like to spoil surprises. I'd be interested to see how many people you throw out before you figure out who it really was" the creature chuckled, speaking more quietly "But I confess, I don't really want to torment you with riddles. If you really want to know..."
"Tell me!" the man whispered as loudly as possible, pressing his forehead to the door.
"I know you're not alone. Just turn around"
A cold sweat broke out on the homeowner. The man spun around and saw a pair of blue eyes staring at him from the hallway. It was the creep from the pantry. The guy froze as the homeowner stared at him, his hands clasped together at his chest, nervously fiddling with his fingers.
"What the hell? Are you eavesdropping?" the homeowner took a step toward Timofey, who nervously chuckled.
"Mm.. didn't think you'd notice, teehee...you've never notic..d..."
"Have you done this before?"
"Ohhhhh...well, was keep..ng an eye on you a little!!.. You sleep well, didn't notice me at all, teehee.." Timofey kept biting his lip, fiddling with his hands. The homeowner stared at the creep dumbfounded, processing what he'd just heard. His hands clenched and unclenched into fists, a mixture of anxiety and simmering aggression raging inside him. Homeowner pointed a slightly trembling index finger at the pantry door, hissing through his teeth "Get the fuck back in the pantry. Now. And don't you dare say anything to me right now"
Timofey gasped, his hands clutched the hem of his shirt at his neck, his eyes seemingly filled with adoration. He nodded slightly and, with awkward quick steps, never taking his eyes off the man's stern face, ran to the pantry, quickly pushing his way inside. The homeowner slammed the door behind the psycho and returned to the front door, peering out through the peephole. Pale visitor was still standing there, looking back with a slightly mocking but interested expression "So, did you punish the naughty guest?"
"You heard it all yourself. Now go away, I'm not alone, you already understand that"
"You know we'll meet again, right?"
The homeowner nodded, and it seemed the creature saw it, or at least sensed it. Visitor smiled before disappearing into the darkness.
The homeowner went into the kitchen, pacing the small space to cool down. Opening the refrigerator, he pulled out a cold beer, taking a greedy sip. Beer was supposed to help calm his nerves, right? No fucking way. That bastard had been watching him, wandering around the house while he slept, unsuspecting. What if this psycho had done something to him? What if he had stolen something? The man felt the anger settle heavily in his chest, his hands clenching again. Placing his beer with a thud, spilling some of the drink on the table, the homeowner jumped up from his seat, heading for the pantry with loud, stomping steps. He couldn't let this guy's behavior slide. Not in his house.