(Dark) Stranger at the Door

Date: 6/24/2019

I was sitting at my kitchen table with my father and younger brother, it was around 10pm. We sat there, trying to make conversation until my step mother walked in carrying my other brother who was less than a year old. She sat at the table as well and layed a blanket on it for my brother. Minutes later he died. He stopped breathing. There was no build up or hint that he would, he just passed away. My parents were upset, understandably so, and let out some panicked noises but didn't say actual words. My younger sibling didn't understand what was wrong, and I was too shocked to do anything. A while passed and the adults had gone into mournful silence. The baby's body was still on the table. There was a knock at the door, just a few feet in front of the table we sat at. It startled us since it was so late at night, and considering what just happened, we weren't in the mood for visitors. My father stood up from his chair and was about to see who it was when the person outside spoke. "Hello? Is anyone in there? Your lights are on, can you please let me in? I - I was bit by a stray dog and my leg is bleeding out... Its pretty bad." It was a man, young, and his voice was shaking as he spoke. My dad put his finger to his lips to tell us to be quiet. He walked towards the door and peeked through the blinds. My younger sibling didn't get the message and asked who it was. "I can hear you in there. Let me in. Come on." I was getting really tense, the guy sounded like trouble, my step mother looked a bit nervous as well. My father looked away from the blinds, shaken. He motioned again for us to be quiet, and said through the door, "Go away." The person outside tapped on the door again, more aggressive this time, "Just let me in. I saw you peeking, now open the door." My step mother stood up from her chair and whispered to my dad, asking who it was. He didn't answer her and just said to go into another room or out the back door. There was another knock, much harder than the others, "You know you'll die if you don't just open the door. Let me in." The doorknob shook a little, and I jumped from my seat. I rushed past my sibling and out the back door, making a dash for the fence. As I pushed through a hole in our fence I heard a shot go off from the house. I woke up nervous. I felt guilty knowing I'd left my family behind just so I could save myself from the person outside, who wanted to kill us.