Chapter 9 - THE NIGHT THEY CAME FOR NIA
The first knock came at eleven forty-three.
Nia was sitting on her couch, reviewing a list of affordable apartments.
She froze.
Another knock.
"Miss Lewis?"
A man's voice.
She did not recognize it.
"Who is it?"
"Building management."
Nia looked toward the door.
Her landlord never visited after dark.
She reached for her phone.
"What's this about?"
"There's a problem with the water pipes."
Nia stepped quietly toward the kitchen.
She called emergency services.
Then she heard metal scrape against the lock.
Someone was trying to force the door.
Her heart hammered.
She moved toward the bedroom and shut herself inside.
The front door splintered.
Footsteps entered.
"Nia?"
The voice was no longer pretending to be friendly.
"We just want to talk."
She gripped the phone.
The dispatcher told her officers were on the way.
Nia crouched behind the bed.
The bedroom handle turned.
Then stopped.
A heavy blow struck the door.
Nia closed her eyes.
Another blow.
Wood cracked.
Then sirens rose outside.
The footsteps stopped.
Someone cursed.
A door slammed.
Minutes later, officers entered the apartment and found Nia shaking behind the bed.
She was physically unharmed.
But the front door was destroyed.
And someone had left a message on the kitchen counter.
YOU SHOULD HAVE KEPT CLEANING.
Nia stared at it.
Then began to cry.
May you like
Not because she regretted speaking.
But because she finally understood how much courage could cost.
