At 5:02 a.m., my reclusive neighbor hammered on my door and whispered, “Don’t go to work today—by noon, you’ll understand,” then vanished like he’d just broken every rule keeping me alive

The whole house felt as though it had been holding its breath before I woke.

At the door, I froze with my hand on the deadbolt.

Another knock.

“Who is it?” My voice came out rough from sleep.

“Alyssa.” The man outside sounded breathless. “It’s Gabriel. Open the door. Please.”

Gabriel Stone.

My neighbor.

That made no sense.

Gabriel lived in the small brick continue reading …