text: “Leave now!” I heard a voice scream. My upper body shot up in bed and I tried to adjust my eyes to the darkness. The moon did not manage to shine its light through the thick curtains of my bedroom. Despite the late hour and my otherwise deep sleep, I was wide awake and groped for my mobile phone on my bedside table. My heart began to race when I saw the multitude of notifications from my surveillance camera. Someone was trying to break into my house. Once at 1:48 a.m. Once at 1:56 a.m. Once at 2:14 a.m. and once at 2:37 a.m. My gaze fell to the top corner of the screen. 2:39 a.m. An ice-cold shiver spread over my whole body. I jumped out of bed as if by remote control and locked all the windows and doors. In my mind I went through all the entrances to my bungalow. The front door is locked, as is the door to the garden. The big window in the living room is locked. I grabbed a knife from the kitchen and locked myself in my bedroom. With trembling fingers, I opened my laptop to look at the camera footage. In the background of the tape I recognise a movement and a red dot. A few seconds later, the screen was soaked in a red, milky light and nothing could be seen. I fast-forward the video a little - black. Whoever wanted to break into my house knew what they were doing. He had taped off the lens but forgotten the motion detector. Again my gaze falls to my smartphone. No further notification. Still, I didn't feel comfortable. Not alone. I could not be alone now. Determined, I pressed one of the speed dial buttons. Before I could even bring the phone to my ear, a sharp pain ran through my head. I dropped the phone and pressed both hands against my temples. This must be the sleep deprivation. "Babe? Are you there? Hello?" I heard softly. I picked up the phone again. "Yes I'm here. Can you come here please? Someone tried to break in and I don't feel safe," I explained, on the verge of tears. My boyfriend assured me he would be with me in a short while, as he was just nearby anyway. A few minutes later, my doorbell rang. I turned the key around and let my boyfriend in. I hastily told him a short version of the events. He accompanied me back to my bed. He stroked my hair soothingly while I told him about the voice in my head and the pain that went through me. "I guess my subconscious didn't want me to call you," I quipped. He turned me towards him and smiled at me. His fingers ran down my cheek towards my chin. His smile was different. Not so soft and warm. His eyes. There was something in his eyes I never saw before. It was cold and unsettling. The moment he wrapped his fingers around my neck with a painful force, I suddenly realised why he was near my house. Desperately I fumbled for the knife that I had taken with me for this very reason. But it was too late. Just before I lost consciousness forever, his words echoed in my head. "You should have listened to your subconscious.