A sudden thought struck her: “Lights! Noise!” She flipped on every light on the landing, banishing the darkness from the stairwell, and pounded on the nearest door with all her might. — Help! Help! — Her voice cracked with fear, reverberating through the building. The man in black froze, clearly unprepared for such bold action from a child. Just then, the door swung open, revealing a strong man in casual clothes, and behind him, a woman. — What’s happening here? — he demanded, scanning the girl and the intruder. The man in black recoiled, eyes wide, and then bolted toward the yard, vanishing into the shadows. The girl, still shaking and clutching her school bag, felt a flicker of pride. She had remembered her father’s advice, acted decisively, and it had saved her life.
The man in the doorway grabbed her hand. — Are you okay? — His voice was calm but firm. She nodded, too shaken to speak. Sirens wailed in the distance now, growing louder. The man in black had vanished—but the terror he left lingered, a cold shadow over her chest.
“You were very brave,” the woman said softly, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. The girl swallowed hard, her heart still racing, and realized something powerful: fear could be faced—and beaten.
