111 Crossbow Lane

Timing is everything.

"You better not be trying something. Come on." He grabs me by the arm and forces me down the stairs.

Hold up...This isn't my Gideon. I was supposed to be back in the pantry. I look frantically for something I could use. Damn no luck. We enter the living room, where Brain is sitting watching television.

This is surely different. I can still save this Brian.

"Go sit with him. Keep him busy. I need to prepare the circle." I just nod. I've got to come up with a plan fast.

I sit down next to Brian and watch him closely. Poor boy, he is always the victim, wherever he is, whenever he is. He looks up at me and smiles. The doorbell chimes. I get up and answer the door.

"Good evening ma'am. I'm officer Grace Furlow, from the sheriff's department. Can I ask you some questions?"

"Sure."

"You are new to the community. I don't know if you know the De Witt family down the road?"

"I don't."

"Well, ma'am, the little boy, Brian, he's nine. He went missing earlier today. Here is a photo of him. Maybe you've seen him somewhere or something that might help us?" She shows me a picture of Brian. If only she knew he was sitting right over there in my living room.

As luck would have it, Brian decides to come have a look.

"Who's at the door?" He peeks around me and smiles at the officer.

She frowns and looks at me. She grabs Brian and yanks him out the door, pulling her pistol and aiming it at me.

"Hands up!" She shouts at me.

I swallow hard and slowly put my hands up.

"Wow. It's not what you think, officer."

"Oh really?"

"Yes really." Gideons voice comes from behind her. She turns around and he grabs at her. She manages to fire two rounds before he impaled her body with a broken broom stick. She gurles blood, making choking noises as she's drowning in her own blood. I'm nauseated and gag. But nothing happens.

I look over at Gideon, he hunches over. His face contorted in pain. He's clutching at his abdomen. She shot him both times. Blood seeped through his clothes. He's losing a lot of blood and fast. He falls to the ground, looking at me for help. I look away. It has to be this way. I step inside the house and close the door. I open it again, nothing, just an empty front porch.

I ran up the stairs, opening the bedroom and entering it cautiously. Everything seems to be in order. I close the door and reopen it. I walk through and I'm in the pantry again. I'm starting to grow very weary of doorways. This is some freaky shit.