Before the Night

It was a dark and stormy night, and Lily was stuck in her office building. She was the last one to leave, as usual, and now she was regretting it. The wind howled outside, making the windows rattle and the lights flicker.

As she gathered her things to leave, she heard a strange noise coming from down the hall. It sounded like someone was dragging something heavy across the floor. She froze, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew she should call the police, but her phone was dead.

Suddenly, the lights went out completely. Lily was plunged into total darkness, the only sound the beating of her own heart. She groped her way along the wall, trying to find her way out. But then she heard the dragging noise again, and this time it was closer.

She started to run, stumbling in the dark, her pulse racing. She could hear footsteps behind her now, getting closer and closer. She tried to scream, but her throat was dry and no sound came out.

Just as she thought she was done for, she burst through the front door of the building and out into the storm. She ran blindly through the rain, not daring to look back. But when she finally stopped to catch her breath, she realized she had left her keys inside.

She turned back, her heart in her throat, and saw a figure standing in the doorway. It was a man, tall and dark, with a hood pulled over his head. He stepped forward, and she could see the glint of a knife in his hand.

Lily backed away, her mind racing. She knew she had to think fast if she wanted to survive. She scanned the street, looking for some way to escape. That's when she saw the sign for the old abandoned factory on the outskirts of town.

It was a long shot, but it was her only chance. She turned and ran towards the factory, praying the man wouldn't catch her. She could hear him following, his footsteps pounding on the pavement behind her.

When she finally reached the factory, she ran inside and slammed the door shut behind her. She leaned against the door, panting and shaking. But then she heard the sound of the lock clicking, and she knew she was trapped.

She looked around frantically, searching for some way out. But the factory was vast and empty, with no doors or windows. She was alone with her attacker, with nowhere to hide.

Suddenly, she heard a voice behind her. "Don't worry, Lily. You're safe now."

It was a man's voice, deep and reassuring. She turned to see a figure stepping out of the shadows, holding a gun. It was a detective, who had been investigating the case of a serial killer who had been targeting women in the area.

He had been tracking the killer for months, and he had finally found him. Lily had stumbled into the middle of the investigation by accident, but now she was safe. Before the night was over, the killer was apprehended, and Lily was able to go home, shaken but alive.

From that night on, she made a promise to herself to never stay late at the office again, and to always trust her instincts. She knew that life was fragile and that danger could be lurking around any corner, waiting to strike. But she also knew that there were people out there, like the detective who had saved her life, who were willing to put themselves in harm's way to protect the innocent.