Kill Switch by Penelope Douglas

it excited me. Because I never had a secret, and it made me
feel like… I didn’t know. A teenager, maybe?
The song ended and the calm whir of the next one began to
play, but in the moment of silence between, I noticed the
smallest, barest vibration underneath my bed. The same one I
felt when the garage door opened or the landscapers brought in
their equipment to work on the yard and trim the trees.
I pulled out my earbuds and propped myself up on my
elbows, training my ears for what it was I felt.
Arion had left hours ago for Devil’s Night, some weird
tradition of youth mischief the night before Halloween most of
the world had forgotten about except our little town, and my
father never came home, probably spending the night in the
city again.
I remembered my mother’s words about a mistress he kept,
but I pushed the thought away and stood up. Other than me,
my mom was the only one in the house, and she went to bed
with an Ambien an hour ago.
Walking to my door, I pulled it open a silver and listened.
Maybe my mom got up or Arion brought friends home.
But now I could tell the vibration I’d felt was a slow
whine, but constant and melodic. Up and down, long and slow.
Music. Someone was playing music.
I crept into the hallway, the pulse under my foot growing
strong the closer I got to the sound. My heart beat harder, and I
descended the stairs, finally recognizing the song set at a really
low volume. A Bush song from my playlist in the ballroom.
I pulled my bottom lip in between my teeth, trying to stifle
the fear and excitement raging through me. I should call for
my mom. I should wake her up.
But I ignored that voice in my head and pushed through
the ballroom doors. The song played from my system next to
the wall at a low volume, and I didn’t know if it was the
monsters we all feel when we’re scared or some sixth sense I
didn’t believe in, but I could feel someone in the room.