Personal Alarm

2am.

As if set to, it begins. The footsteps creeping on the floorboards in the room next to mine. Creeping closer to the door, the hissing and clicking sounds getting louder.

The faint cries begin proceeding the inevitable thuds.Softly they start, before patience runs thin and door shattering blows are struck.

The handle is found, it turns, making the noise of a screaming duck.

The door opens, with each inch the panting gets louder, then, on cue, the fumbling, crashing towards me.

Panting fills my ears, louder and louder. Suddenly I hear the sniffling sound, followed by a scream.

"Mummy!!!"