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The Boy in the House

A phone, vibrating inside her pocket. Grabbing it, she answers the call from a number. "Hello."

"Hi Liv, it's me Max." Smiling, the little boy she met with her grandfather.

"Hey Max, how are you?"

"I'm good. Listen, could you come by to my house?" Confusing her, unsure why he would ask her this kind of thing.

"Umm yeah sure. I could swing by when I got the time." Silence from the other end. All she could hear... breathing.

"Thank you Liv." Before hanging up the call. Finding it really weird for her. Liv is inside the bus.

Knowing her granddad will wonder where she is, goes into her contacts, finding his name before calling him. The wait wasn't long for her as he immediately answers.

"Liv."

"Hi. I'm going to be dropping by at Max's house if you start to wonder why I'll be home late." Alex, starting to become confused over what she has just said.

"Max huh, is there something wrong that the kid may be going through?"

"I'm not sure. Best to check up on him then I'll give you another call, when needed. You know, just to pick me up." Alex would rather go into the kid's house by himself, he knows the kid really well but makes him suspicious, unsure why Max would only ask for his granddaughter to come to his house, rather than having him come by. The only thing he knows is Max's crush on his granddaughter, similar to how kids are when they meet an older, beautiful girl. That would gain a little boy's attention.

"Okay then. Just call me to let me know that you're safe." She smiles over this. Happy to know he's there for her.

"Thanks granddad. Gotta go, I love you."

"Love you too." Before hanging up the call. Liv is inside an uber car. The uber driver looks behind her through his mirror.

"Change of plans then." He said.

"Yep." Understanding. She would give him the address for the uber driver to drop her. Catching it, he changes lanes, driving to the house of Max.

Arriving to her destination, she comes out of the car. Thanking the driver for dropping her there. Appreciating it, he drives off. For his next customer or... his break. Looking at the house. Now by herself. It's big. Almost similar to her house with granddad in terms of size. Walking to the front gate, she holds it and gives it a push.

Only for the gate to actually be opened. Surprising her. She goes past the gate. Closing it. Becoming unsure about it but not enough for her to think too much on what's really going on. Approaching the front door. Ringing the doorbell. The door, similar to the one Jen and Danny have for their house. The same house Max lives in. There was no Ring doorbell at the time. Just a normal doorbell. One that looks old and a bit broken. Walking to the doorbell, feeling something from her feet. Looking at it. A heart shaped chocolate bar. Finding it cute, she grabs it.

Raising herself up, takes a closer look at it. Before turning her head on the left side. To see the door, slightly opened. Surprising her, she looks at the door. Not opening it straight away. Observing it, she slowly opens the door. Causing creeking noises to come from it.

Now inside, she closes the door. No key inserted. Fair enough. Looking around the whole house. The house, still looking clean.

"Max!!" She calls for him. Wanting to know where he is. Walking towards the kitchen, before getting attracted to what she has just seen right now.

A teddy bear with a pack of flowers next to it. Liv walks towards it. Touching some of the items. It's really cute. Max is only 8 years old, still young. She plays along with it, knowing he's still a little boy as Liv is only 16. Finding a card, she grabs it, revealing a message:

You're a really beautiful girl and I hope to be with you everyday.

Aww so cute. Placing it with the teddy bear. An insect, going into Liv's hand. Looking at it, not smacking it, just a look. It walks around for a bit, not biting her. Till two or three more of the animals, go into her hand. Curious, she looks where the insects are coming from.

The kitchen. The kitchen door is opened. Raising herself up before waving her hand, making the insects fly away from her. Approaching the kitchen.

"MAX!!" No response as she continues her approach to the kitchen. Now inside, hearing insects bussing somewhere on her right side. Looking closely.

Oh God. She gasp in shock. Refusing to scream as she sees a corpse. The corpse of his mother. Not going in front of her as the her body, being devoured by flies. She goes back to the living room. Breathing fast, in and out.

She grabs her phone from her pocket, calling someone. Waiting, waiting and waiting, hoping the person from the other end picks up the phone.

"Hey Liv."

"Granddad. I'm inside Max's house." The way she spoke, immediately making him worry for her.

"What is it?" Looking at the corpse once more before turning her head back to the living room.

"I found a dead body." Shocking Alex. Refusing to believe it. A corpse in the house. A kid's house. In disbelief as he answers, "A dead body? Who's dead body?"

Looking at it again. "I don't know, it's Max... it's an older lady." Freaking Alex, as he moves himself back, a lot to comprehend. Now in fear for the person he loves.

"Liv, you need to get out of here. Right now!!" With her anxiety, taking over her body, she agrees.

Running back to the front door. Opening the front door. But the front door, refusing to open. It's locked. Trying to budge her way out of the house. Banging onto it. Forcing it to open.

Bang!! A noise, near her. Looking behind her. Only to see nothing. She walks slowly, hoping to investigate where the noise is.

"MAX!!!" She shouts to him once more but no answer. The banging noises. Continue. Coming from a closed door near her.

Approaching it, now close to it. "Max!! Are you inside?" No response. The banging noise, continues. Now in front of her. The banging noise become more violent.

Running to the kitchen, grabbing a knife from there before going back to the downstairs closet. Now armed, opens the door with one hand. Revealing...

Nothing. Just jackets and shoes. Until she sees... a robot action figure. Grabbing it slowly, she finds a button, that causes the toy to become operational. The toy was the one that did most of the banging. Trying to remain calm and composed...

A small dark, hooded figure behind her, grabbing her on the mouth with a cloth. Struggling to break out it till her mind and body couldn't handle it anymore. As she closes her eyes and becomes unconscious. The figure, small but similar to the one Danny has met, walks around her, before removing his mask to breath.

Max. His wounded face filled with bruises and cuts. Staring at her body before grabbing her legs, pulling it till he goes upstairs along with her lifeless body. Pulling it with his strength before putting her inside his room. Max, looking out of the door before closing it. Alone with him and the girl, now with him.