**Chapter 5: The Turning Point**

The air was still charged with tension as Lucas's eyes seemed to bore into Dorothy's skin. She tried to brush off the feeling of unease, telling herself she was being paranoid, but her instincts were screaming at her to be cautious. The conversation was stilted, with Lucas's responses growing shorter and more monosyllabic. Dorothy's attempts at small talk were met with silence or brief, curt answers. As the silence grew thicker, Dorothy felt her anxiety spiking. She shifted uncomfortably in her seat, trying to think of a way to extricate herself from the situation. Lucas, on the other hand, seemed to be enjoying her discomfort. His eyes seemed to gleam with a sinister light, making Dorothy's skin crawl. Suddenly, Lucas stood up, his movements fluid and almost predatory. He began to pace around the room, his eyes scanning the space with an unnerving intensity. Dorothy watched him, her heart pounding in her chest. She tried to speak, but her voice caught in her throat. "Lucas, I think it's time for you to go," she managed to stammer, trying to sound firmer than she felt. But Lucas just chuckled, a cold, mirthless sound. He continued to pace, his eyes fixed on Dorothy with an unblinking gaze. She felt trapped, her senses on high alert as she waited for him to make his next move. The air seemed to vibrate with tension as Lucas's words hung in the air. Dorothy's mind was racing, trying to think of a way to escape the situation. She glanced around the room, searching for a distraction, but there was nothing. She was alone, and Lucas was closing in. Just as it seemed like Lucas was about to take another step closer, the sound of the front door opening broke the spell. Dorothy's heart leapt with relief as she heard Stan's voice calling out, "Hey, Dorothy! What's going on?" Lucas's head snapped towards the sound, his eyes narrowing into slits. For a moment, Dorothy thought he was going to lunge at Stan, but then he seemed to think better of it. With a curt nod, he turned and stalked out of the room, leaving Dorothy shaken and grateful. Stan appeared in the doorway, a look of concern etched on his face. "Hey, what's going on?" he asked, his eyes scanning the room as if searching for something. Dorothy took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. "Lucas was just leaving," she said, her voice still shaking slightly. Stan's eyes narrowed. "What did he do?" he asked, his voice low and menacing. Dorothy shook her head, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. "He just...he was being weird," she said, trying to downplay the situation. But Stan wasn't buying it. He knew Dorothy well enough to recognize when she was trying to brush something off. He took a step closer, his eyes locked on hers. "What happened?" he asked, his voice soft but firm. Dorothy hesitated, unsure of how to explain. But before she could say anything, Stan's expression changed. His eyes hardened, and his jaw clenched. "I'll take care of it," he said, his voice low and deadly. Dorothy felt a surge of gratitude towards Stan. She knew he had her back, and that she was safe. As she looked into his eyes, she felt a sense of relief wash over her. She knew that she wasn't alone, and that Stan would protect her from harm. As Stan turned to leave, Dorothy called out to him. "Stan, wait," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. Stan turned back to her, his eyes questioning. "Yeah?" Dorothy took a deep breath, feeling a lump form in her throat. She tried to speak, but the words caught in her throat. She shook her head, feeling tears prick at the corners of her eyes. Stan's expression softened. He took a step closer to Dorothy, his eyes filled with concern. "Hey, it's okay," he said, his voice gentle. "You're safe now." But as he wrapped his arms around her, Dorothy felt the dam break. She began to cry, the tears streaming down her face as she trembled with fear and relief. Stan held her close, his voice whispering softly in her ear. "I've got you, Dorothy. I've got you." As they stood there, Dorothy felt the tension melt away. She knew she was safe, and that Stan would always be there to protect her. But as the tears continued to flow, she knew that this was just the beginning. She still had to face the aftermath of Lucas's visit, and the emotions that came with it.