Caged

Trapped in a psychological nightmare, "Caged" follows the harrowing descent of a woman whose obsession with her neighbor's mysterious house spirals out of control. Jen's mundane life becomes a relentless quest for answers as she notices strange antennas on the house across the street. What begins as idle curiosity quickly turns into a full-blown obsession, driving her to the brink of madness.

As days turn into sleepless nights, Jen's reality blurs with her paranoid fantasies. She becomes convinced that the house is hiding dark secrets, and her relentless pursuit of the truth leads her to tear down the walls—both literal and figurative—that confine her. The voice in her head, the static of an untuned radio, and the chilling phrase "She's awake" haunt her every move, pushing her deeper into the abyss.

Jenny Leidecker masterfully blends psychological thriller and horror in "Caged," a gripping tale of obsession, paranoia, and the terrifying consequences of losing one's grip on reality. This short story will leave readers questioning what is real and what is imagined, and whether the true horror lies within the walls of the house or the mind of the protagonist.