It had been a long day at work. I grabbed a quick bite to eat on the way home, parked on the street outside my apartment building, and made my way inside. Some TV temporarily took my mind off of the dread of going to work the next day. I prepared my things for the following day. The studio apartment I lived in made everything easily accessible, as there was so little room to spread things out.
I didn't entertain much, so the single recliner took the space in front of the TV, which was framed by the two windows that looked out of my second story apartment down to the street below. The end table next to it held the remote and a couple of motorcycle magazines. The bed and nightstand were in one corner, while the kitchen area was in another. It was enough for me and my needs, and would work until I had reason to need more space.
I ventured into the only private space in my apartment, the bathroom. Not that it really needed to be private, since it was only me in apartment 2B. A long, hot shower later, and it was time for bed. I rattled around the bathroom as the night came to a close.
I wrapped my towel around me, turned out the light as I exited, and headed through the mostly dark apartment towards my bed. Now the only light came through the windows on either side of the TV. I kept trying to remind myself to get blackout curtains, as the streetlights were not kept out by my current selection. I went to close my curtains to get the room as dark as possible in order to go to sleep. I failed to notice the shadow approach from the kitchen behind me. My only warning was an object jammed into my back.
"Don't move!" a low voice behind me ordered.
"Shit...take whatever you want man. I'm not gonna stop you." I replied as my open hands stayed up and in sight.
What I assumed to be a gun was removed from between my shoulder blades. My arms were pulled behind me and a ziptie was tightened around my wrists. I was pushed forward and fell onto my stomach on the bed.
"Just stay there and you won't get hurt."
Not wanting to antagonize my "company", I stayed when I fell and kept my head down.
I could hear him rattling around the apartment. Drawers were opened and rooted through, items were pushed around my small desk, he even went into my bathroom to look around. I heard the fridge open and turned my head enough to get a glimpse of the intruder illuminated by the dim lightbulb inside the fridge.
The short peek showed a big guy with a mask over his face. I really doubted it was from COVID. More like America's Most Wanted. I couldn't make out the designs, but tattoos went up his arms and under his shirt. I turned my face back to the bed as he looked my way.
