Surprise

"Why is it so dark everywhere? It's just 5," David asked as he stepped out.

As he turned on the lights while passing through, David wondered how his nieces had managed to walk through this area without screaming in fear or tripping over themselves.

He also considered the possibility that they might have had a hand in turning off the lights as part of some prank.

David didn't dwell on it, though—he had done worse in his youth, so why bother worrying about it now? However, he couldn't shake off the weird feeling.

The house was silent—eerily so. The quiet was so profound it made him feel unsafe. Returning to his room, David grabbed the nearest weapon he could find: a metal pole used for hanging curtains.

Wielding his makeshift weapon, he cautiously made his way downstairs, turning on every light he passed, ready to strike if necessary.

The oppressive darkness persisted until he reached the foyer.