The Dark Stairs

She was alone. Her child was sleeping. She was cleaning the dishes. He's late. She puts a dish down. Crash. It doesn't come from the sink. It comes from the basement. She takes a few steps and peers down those dark stairs. Her telltale heard tortured her for a minute before picking up the phone. Operator.

The officer walked up to her. She didn't see him, that...corrupt Sandman with a shard of glass, tearing up her peace of mind. "You're lucky ma'am. We've been lookin' for him for a while. As it turns out, he's a rapist. Multiple offenses. It's lucky you called us when you did." He put his hand on her shoulder.

There she stood. Staring down those dark stairs. Is it that big of a deal? Maybe it was just a rat.