Home Invasion Nightmare-4

After moving back in with my parents, I got used to coming home late from my night shifts. That night, I unlocked the front door using our hidden spare key, quietly relocked it, and sat down to eat my late dinner.

Suddenly... the front door clicked and creaked open.

I froze. “Mom? Dad?” Silence.

I raced upstairs and found them both sound asleep. My dad grabbed a bat from under the bed, and we began searching the house.

I checked the spare key’s hiding spot—it was gone.

We searched every room—until something caught my eye in the dining room.

Trembling, I got down on my knees and looked under the table...

He was there. The man from the gas station, grinning.

I lunged forward, shouting, but... he vanished.

The police found no signs of forced entry.

Was I imagining it... or would he be back?