SAMANTHA
The darkness swallowed me whole.
I could not see a thing. The curtains were drawn tight and the candles had burned out and the only light came from the faint glow of the moon through the gap in the fabric. I stood in the middle of my living room, my heart pounding so loud that I could hear it in my ears.
"Joanne?" I called out again, my voice trembling. "Are you there?"
No answer.
I took a step forward. Then another. My hand reached out, searching for the wall, for the light switch, for anything that would chase away this suffocating darkness.
Then someone grabbed me from behind.
The grip was tight and unyielding and strong. One arm wrapped around my waist and the other clamped over my mouth before I could scream. I was pulled backward against a hard body and I felt hot breath against my ear.
Every hair on my body stood on end.
"Argh!!" The sound was muffled against the hand that covered my mouth. "Who are you?"
