I was sitting in bed, under the window. The thick, white, spider stained blinds were pulled all the way down. They never rest on the window sill. When they’re like that you can’t see out. Can’t see if anyone is out there. Can’t see if the cat is wandering around. Can’t see the highway at the bottom of the hill, cars speeding around all through the night. Can’t see anything. But on this night they were resting in the sill.

The blue light from the charger illuminates some of the room. Ghastly shadows cover the walls and roof from the many leads snaking above. It’s an eerie sight. I had, however, grown used to it. After over a year of living in the house, you would hope I have. And it’s not like I didn’t have a blue light in previous rooms.

But I share this room with a little sister. A sister who is only there half the time.

The windows rattle in the howling wind. A branch snaps in the distance. Cold air finds its way through the crack in the window above the empty bed. It never closes properly, at least there’s a fly screen. The one next to my head doesn’t have one. And there’s always spiders gathered.

It’s 11:30. I should be asleep by now. I have school tomorrow after all. But I’m on my phone. I don’t even know what I’m doing. It’s meaningless. But it passes the time. Who needs sleep anyway?

The wind has died down but something is scratching and tapping in the window. It can’t be the bushes, they’re too low. And it’s the wrong window for it to be the tree. I wonder what it is for a while. But before long my attention is fully engrossed in my phone. Not even a minute later and it has been forgotten.

After ten minutes have passed I remember it again. It’s gotten too annoying. So I slowly put the phone down and lift the blind away from the window.

For a split second, I see a grey hand with claws against the window. But then it’s gone. I try to see beyond the glass but it’s too dark. The blind goes back down.

After five minutes of silence, I decided to get my cat. So I get out of bed, exit the bedroom, pass the window just outside, and go into the laundry. The cat was lying at eye level on a stack of towels. I carefully pick him up and carry him off to bed.

As we pass the window, the cat grows still and stares out of it. I can’t see anything but I know there is something out there. The cat just confirms my suspicions. The hand was real.

Once I’m in bed, the cat is placed on the window sill above the first bed, and I try to drift off. My cat has other plans though. He’s not looking out the window like usual. His gaze is still fixed on the other window, even though there’s a door blocking his view.

After a few minutes, the cat goes out and sits on the window sill, staring intently outside. He only does that when someone is out there. So someone is definitely there. But who would be out in the cold? What creature has grey skin and claws instead of fingernails on human hands?

Before she drifts off at 12:20 her brother comes home. The motorbike announcing his presence minutes before he comes inside. Minutes before he goes to bed.

Despite the knowledge that all must be fine, I don’t sleep for another hour.

And the cat is still watching.