House No. 13

Cyber Grim

"Mom, when will you be back?" Anna asked over her mobile phone.

"I'll be back in an hour," Kelly replied, pushing the trolley toward the next rack where various brands of cooking oil were displayed on shelves.

"Do you need anything else?" Kelly asked, picking up a bottle of oil and placing it in her trolley.

"Bring me a big pack of Cheetos and a chocolate brownie," Anna requested.

"Anna, no junk food," Kelly insisted.

"Please, Mom," Anna pleaded, glancing at the sleeping figure of Eric.

"Okay, where is Eric?" Kelly asked.

"He's sleeping. I'm in his room, and the door is locked from the inside," Anna replied.

"Alright, you stay with Eric. I'll be back soon," Kelly reassured, then added firmly, "And listen, don't leave the room.

Stay with Eric and keep each other company." Kelly spoke in a serious tone before ending the call.

Kelly hesitated to leave her children alone in the house with AURORA behaving erratically. However, she had run out of essential groceries, and Eric's medication urgently needed replenishing. Reluctantly, she switched off AURORA and instructed Anna to lock Eric's room from the inside, ensuring she stayed there until Kelly returned.

"I think I've bought everything," Kelly muttered to herself, checking the list of items in her shopping cart as she pushed it toward the checkout counter.

After a few minutes, Kelly loaded the grocery bags and Eric's medicine into her car and started driving toward Stoneblock. The bags were securely placed on the back seat.

When Kelly had left the house, the sky had been clear with bright daylight illuminating everything. However, now clouds had gathered, casting a shadow over the daylight, and it seemed like rain was imminent.

Kelly parked the car in the garage and stepped out, greeted by the loud barks of Hugo.

"Why is Hugo barking so loudly?" Kelly muttered, scanning her surroundings to locate him. His persistent barking suggested he was nearby.

Leaving the shopping bags in the car, Kelly walked into the garden. As she turned towards the right side, she spotted Hugo standing in front of the lounge window on the side wall.

"What's wrong, Hugo?" Kelly approached the dog, patting its head gently as she spoke in a calm voice.

"What's got you so panicked?" Kelly inquired, running her hand through the thick, white fur. Hugo, a Samoyed with a double-layered coat, looked distressed, his almond-shaped eyes betraying fear.

As Kelly tried to comfort Hugo, she glanced towards the window. Her hand paused abruptly on Hugo's fur.

The sight through the closed window stunned Kelly. She hurried towards it, attempting to open it from inside.

Inside the lounge, Kelly saw Anna standing in the middle, screaming. What alarmed Kelly was the sight of a table runner wrapped tightly around Anna's head. Both ends of the runner were pulled in opposite directions, securing it firmly around her head as if someone had deliberately wrapped it around her in that manner.

"Anna, what's happening?" Kelly shouted at the top of her lungs, but the closed glass window muffled her voice.

She sprinted towards the main door, desperate to get inside and free Anna. As she approached and grabbed the door handle to open it, she discovered it was locked tight.

"Anna! Open the door!" Kelly yelled, her voice tinged with panic and urgency.

"AURORA, open the door!" Kelly continued to press the handle, hoping AURORA had unlocked it, but the door remained stubbornly shut.