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Katie woke with a shudder. Sitting up, she stared into the darkness of her bedroom and scanned its shadowy crevices. The full moon leaked between the gap in the curtains, casting dim light around the room. Something had woken her; she was sure of it. But everything in the room was as it should be; nothing looked out of place. She sat in silence and listened for any sign her children might be out of bed, hearing nothing unusual over the rhythmic snoring of her husband.

She frowned. Rubbing her eyes, she reached for the glass of water on the bedside table. Taking a large swig, she concluded she must have been dreaming. She replaced the glass and rested her head down on her warm feather pillow. Signing with gratitude, she snuggled back in under her covers. Comforted by her husband’s rhythmic snoring, she closed her eyes and sought sleep once more.

THUD.

Katie's eyes snapped open. She threw back her covers and sat up, listening silently as her heart thundered.

No way.

Locking her eyes on the gap of her bedroom door, she held her breath and waited. From where she sat, she could see through onto the landing and the top of the stairs. The seconds ticked by.

Thud.

Shit!

Katie turned towards her husband and shook him frantically. He stirred, but his deep snoring didn't stop. She glanced back at the gap in the door, expecting to see someone's face looking at her from between the bars on the bannister.

Someone could be on their way up right now! Creeping their way up this very second!

Her stomach fell as she continued to shake him, sweat pooling on her forehead. She immediately regretted buying a house where the master bedroom was at the front of the property, and the children were the closest to the stairs.

Her husband stirred a little more before rolling over. The snoring continued. Anger warmed her stomach as she remembered how much he’d had to drink before they’d come to bed. She was too scared to say his name. She feared every breath she took, every squeak of the bed springs, even every pounding heartbeat could give her away. Instead, she pulled the covers off of him, rolled him over and slapped his face with moderate but quiet force.

Dave's eyes snapped open as the palm of her hand connected with his cheek. Katie immediately put her hand over his mouth and frantically shook her head from side to side, a finger pressed desperately to her lips. He pushed her hand away with tired confusion and searched her frightened eyes.

Dave slowly pushed himself up, his body tense and careful not to make any noise as if he instantly understood the desperation on his wife's face. Yet his expression looked sceptical and mildly irritated, as though he was humouring her. Katie cupped her left ear with one hand and pointed to the floor with the other. Dave rolled his eyes as he sat on the side of the bed and listened, awarding her the benefit of the doubt.

Katie searched his expression, hoping he would hear it too and take it seriously. It wouldn't be the first time she had woken him in the middle of the night to check out noises in the new house but this was different, she could feel it.

Scrape.

Katie watched as her husband’s demeanour instantly changed to one of alarm. He wasted no time pushing himself to his feet with a swell of confidence and the primal need to protect. She flinched as the floorboards creaked underneath him. Raising her hand, she pleaded with him to move quieter as he made his way around the foot of the bed. He slowed slightly; urgency rippled off him in waves. He took her hand and helped her onto her feet. Katie's legs felt weak as she followed him to the bedroom door. The sudden urge to urinate ached inside her as she wondered if he had a plan.

Dave opened the door slowly. Katie immediately felt more vulnerable with the door wide open and nothing between them, the stairs, and the hallway below; they might as well have been standing outside the living room door. The air felt statically charged as they entered the upper hallway. Dave walked carefully onto the landing and peered over the bannister. Katie grabbed the back of his pyjama shirt and held tight as she tiptoed behind him, letting him lead. She held her breath as they crept towards the top of the stairs and the children's bedroom doors.

They stopped at the top of the stairs. Katie eyed the dark stairway and listened closely; they could hear better from here. Sounds of subtle movement floated up the staircase along with hushed footsteps. Katie's eyes grew wide with terror as she watched Dave's brow furrow, his expression turning to one of anger. He'd come to the same conclusion; multiple intruders.

Her eyes filled with tears as fear overwhelmed her. Images of her innocent children's faces filled with terror swarmed her mind and clouded her judgment. She struggled to think straight as her heart played to the beat of a thousand furious drums.

Dave reached out and placed his large hands firmly on her shoulders. Leaning in, he demanded eye contact. She looked into his eyes as she trembled. He looked stern and determined as they stared at each other in the dark, trying to comprehend the danger they were in. He nodded to her with eyebrows raised, conveying his intent to go down there.

Katie squeaked as she took a sharp breath and shook her head, pleading for him to stay. His eyes looked sad and burdened as he shook his head. Raising a hand to his ear, he stuck out his thumb and pinkie and signalled for her to call for help.

Katie patted down her dressing gown, but the pockets were empty. She shrugged, realising her phone must still be on the dressing table. Dave pointed behind her and nodded for her to go and get it. She shook her head furiously and instead pointed towards the children's bedroom doors.

They had three children - a baby of six months and twin boys of five. The twins shared a room to her right, but the baby’s nursery was directly above the stairs. It would be the first door the intruders would reach if they managed to get past Dave and up the stairs. Their daughter was helpless; Katie couldn't leave her like that. Besides, it would take time to wake and hide the boys, so it made sense to get the baby first.

She pointed toward the nursery, behind her to their bedroom, then the boys' room, before finally making the hand signal for the phone. Dave began to protest but she glared at her husband, letting him know that was the only way it was happening.

Dave had seen her expression a thousand times. His wife was headstrong and determined, he knew better than to waste time arguing with her. He nodded in defeat and stood closer to the top of the stairs, making room for her to creep her way behind him to their daughter’s door. If the intruders came round the corner now, they would be sure to see him standing at the top.

Katie tried to move quickly but quietly, which seemed impossible as her legs shook beneath her. Her breath shuddered as she gently pushed the nursery door inward. The room was filled with the homely smell of new baby. She tiptoes toward the crib and her soundly sleeping daughter.

Reaching in, she carefully picked her up and cuddled her little girl to her chest. She waited ten agonising seconds, watching her anxiously, pleading to the heavens that she would not wake and demand milk. The little girl cooed as she snuggled her face into her mother’s breast, remaining asleep. Katie closed her eyes and thanked the gods before turning softly and heading back to her husband.

Every horror film she'd ever seen seemed to flash through her mind as she approached the stairs with her infant in her arms. The countless possibilities of how the night might end caused acid to swirl in her stomach. Her arms felt weak as she passed through the doorway and behind her husband. He nodded and smiled slightly at her as she headed for the bedroom, letting her know she was doing great as he stood as a human barrier at the head of the stairs - prepared to fight anyone who should try and get to his family as he waited for her to get to the boys.

Katie's phone glinted in the moonlight as she entered her bedroom. She held her daughter close with one hand and picked up her mobile with the other. She was sure her pounding heart would wake the sleeping baby any second now.

Smash.

Katie flinched as she walked back into the hallway. Dave had moved slightly to the right. His hand gripped the door to the boys' room, slowly sliding it open as she returned. Katie glanced in at the boys as they slept peacefully in their beds in their superhero pyjamas. Her heart weighed heavy as she frantically tried to think of places she could hide them.

Dave took her chin in his fingers, gently turning her head towards him. He kissed her before briefly resting his forehead against hers. Katie felt tears filling her closed eyes - The kiss felt like goodbye. She gulped down her grief as he pulled away, the look of determination on his face.

The noise downstairs grew closer, more intensified, as though the intruders were gaining confidence.

He nodded for Katie, letting her know it was time. His eyes pleaded with her to hurry up and get in the bedroom. He pointed to a chest of drawers just inside the doorway. Katie nodded, letting him know she understood before tiptoeing into the bedroom and placing her sleeping daughter gently onto a pillow at the foot of her son's bed. She was going to need both hands if she was going to try to barricade the door.

The chest of drawers looked heavy and forbidding as Katie tried to pump herself up, reminding herself women had lifted cars off of their children. If there was ever a time for mamma bear, this was it.

Time seemed to slow as she watched her husband give himself an inner pep talk in the darkness through the open-door way, silently psyching himself up. His chest swelled as he clenched his fists and locked his jaw. She could almost see the testosterone coming off him in waves; the primal need to protect his own.

Katie placed her hand on the door handle as Dave grabbed the handrail and turned to look at her. He nodded. She shut the door and raced for the chest of drawers as her husband thundered down the stairs.