A Very Scary Story About A Haunted House

0:00The best friend's Matthew Lowe stared up at those two words while the Star Wars battle front-room and two-loading screen-pound over a planet that existed a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. Dude, you still have that thing? He asked his friend, Gavin Lancel, the word best having been stripped in all but spirit since the 5th grade. The thing to which Matthew referred was a drawing of the two of them playing in a pool together that Matthew had given to Gavin when they were 5. His mom had helped him spell best friends, and it had actually been her who forgot to include the silent letter I, huh? Oh, yeah, I guess. Gavin said dismissively. He dropped his controller and surprised Matthew with a violent hug. He said, I just love you so much, bro. His voice was drenched in sarcastic emotion. Laughing, Matthew pushed him away, saying, get off me, Cree. The game's starting. Gavin picked his controller back up and chose his class for the intergalactic battle. He said, I bet Mom hung that up.

1:01I honestly didn't notice it until now since I was so used to seeing it in my old room. Well, I think it's sweet, Matthew Cude. He zeroed in his rifle on a battle droid tear and fired. Gavin swore under his breath. Wait, was that you? Matthew asked. He only get one of those Gavin replied, elbowing Matthew below the ribs. The boys had hung out like this practically every afternoon since the 5th grade. They would ride the bus together and get off at one of their homes, usually Matthews, but occasionally Gavin's. Gavin's parents both worked, so there was always a period of an hour or two during which there was no adult supervision. Matthew's parents weren't always comfortable with the boys hanging out without any adults around. But that had been when Gavin lived in a two-bedroom apartment downturn. Two weeks ago, the Lancelsox had moved out of the apartment into a house clear across town. The boys, now 13, still got to see each other at school, but hanging out afterwards became complicated. The distance between their homes was too far to walk now, and their parents weren't always willing to shuffle them back and forth. Last weekend, they had done the sleepover at Matthews in order to make up for the lost

2:02time. This time, it was Gavin's turn to host the sleepover, and it was supposed to last the entire weekend. Monday was a work day for the teachers at school, so the boys didn't have to go back until Tuesday. The long weekend happened to align with Matthews' parents' 12-year wedding anniversary. They decided it might be the perfect weekend for an extended getaway, something they hadn't done since before Matthew was born. Tina and James Lancel happily accepted the chance to have Matthew and Till Monday afternoon. At 13 and rocketing toward 14, their son Gavin could be moody to put it mildly. Having a friend around all, we can, would make the Lancelhouse hold a brighter place than it normally was, especially since the move. Ever since moving in, the family had felt just slightly off-kilter. James, Gavin's father, had said it was just the feeling of change and admitted privately to Lena that Gavin's teenage hormones probably weren't helping. The general feeling in the new house wasn't even necessarily bad, it was just off. It reminded Lena of a trip she had once taken to Sierra's tower. On the top floor, there were glass cages extruding from the sides of the building. She had stood in one and stayed straight down at the street below.

3:04Despite knowing the glass had held countless visitors before her, Lena couldn't help dwelling on the baseless possibility that she could be one visitor too many. That semi-arachional feeling that the form I'd give up in Utah was exactly how it felt in her family's new home. And at least a serious tower she could see what lay below. She knew what to expect if the floor gave out. Matthew and Gavin came until one in the morning. Their energy had slowly depleted after the artificial boost from caffeine and sugar war off. Matthew grabbed his backpack and headed into the bathroom to change into the T-shirt and sweatpants he had brought to sleep in. The bathroom was just around the corner from Gavin's room, which was good, since Lena and James had gone to sleep hours before. The boys wouldn't have to worry about accidentally waking them during bathroom trips. He stripped down to his underwear. His toothbrush was packed in his bag on top of his sleep clothes, so he decided to brush his teeth before dressing again. His teeth were coated in whatever the heck they put in monster energy drinks, and he couldn't wait to clean them. As he bent over to spit in the sink, he heard a tap tap tap on the other side of the wall. He repeated the pattern back with one knuckle, assuming Gavin was just messing with him from

4:07the other room. As he rinsed his mouth, he heard tap tap tap tap. He repeated a simple pattern again, but this time he followed it up with one of his own. Knock, knock, knock, knock, tap tap tap tap. The response came almost immediately, like Gavin had predicted Matthew's pattern before he had even thought of it. Waffy got dressed uninterrupted. When he left the bathroom, he reached back and turned off the light. A thump resounded behind a wall at the very same moment he hit the switch. This sound was far louder than the gentle taps. It sounded like Gavin had thrown something against the wall. Dude, you're going to wake your parents up, Matthew warned us he re-entered Gavin's room. Gavin was laying on his bed, playing with a rubber band and looking drugged. Huh? He asked, whatever you just threw was so loud. I didn't throw anything Gavin said. He sounded barely alive. Matthew rolled his eyes, assuming Gavin was messing with him but feeling too tired to play along. Whatever, dude. Where should I sleep? The boys woke the next morning with a feeling in their heads they hadn't the life experience

5:08to compare to hangover yet. The immense amount of sugar they had consumed, along with the unhealthy amount of caffeine, piled on top of the poor, truncated night of sleep, had left them wrecked. Some out through channels of thought only available to children, Matthew thought taking a shower would alleviate all of his woes. That, and maybe some pancakes if they could convince Mrs. Lancel to make a stack. Amguna was all he said to Gavin, with the slightest of nods toward the hallway end thus, the bathroom. Gavin groaned and closed his eyes again. Matthew dried the clothes he had changed out of up from the floor and swashed himself into the hallway. His neck hung low, like a counterweight, towing his body along. He stumbled into the bathroom, tripping over the trim, separating the bathroom tile from the hallways hardwood. After making sure there was a dry towel hanging on the rack, he turned in the water. Matthew dropped his sleep clothes, which somehow felt filthy despite him wearing them for less than five hours, and stepped into the hot stream drizzling from the Lancel shower head. The water wasn't coming strong enough. Why does it seem like any time you shower away from home? The pressure just isn't quite right. Matthew didn't mind, though.

6:09The temperature was perfect. He was taught enough to steam up the glass door. Matthew scrubbed off the layer of whatever he called a film that coats teenage boys during the night and started to feel better almost instantly. He filled his lungs with steamy, warm air, letting his body wake up once out of time. The wakefulness began and his feet and slowly worked its way up to the base of his neck. The reviving sensation had nearly reached his brain when a change in smell perked his mind up prematurely. An odor, like rod and eggs, siren fermented, filled Matthew's sinuses and conned to their mucousy walls. When he looked down to hack a water flim into the drain, he saw the spy-rilling whirlpool that had turned murky brown. He looked up at the shower head. Millions of droplets of infected water were raining down upon him, coating his skin in a rusty sort of brown dye and filling his mouth and nose with a rotten stench. Matthew's fingers wrapped around the shower knob and he shut the foul water off. The whole bathroom stunk like weak old rucker. He reached through the noxious stream for the towel, holding his breath as long as he could. He didn't know what he was standing in, but it couldn't be healthy to breathe. The steamed up mirror caught his attention.

7:10He had only seen it in his peripheral vision, but an instinct evolved in centuries past allowed it into something that didn't belong in the reflection. Matthew jerked down another breath as he looked into his marble reflection. He could see the cloudy outline of himself in the fog. Behind him, on his left, was the dark shape of the brown towel he had just hung. But there was another shape on his other side, situated above his right shoulder. It appeared to be directly behind him where there should have been nothing but the empty shower. It had no form, no distinct parts. It was like his own shadow had taken a step to the side to walk alongside him rather than directly behind. Matthew fell trapped and unable to move his eyes. He wanted badly to glance over his shoulder and see what the thing in the reflection was, but he was afraid to look away. If he had searched deep within himself, a feat he was incapable of in that moment, he would have found he was afraid the dark form might envelop him if he took his eyes off of it. It might become him or he would become it. Neither possibility seemed more attractive. The saddened grow behind the door finally made Matthew take his eyes off the mirror. When he turned toward the sound, he also saw there was absolutely nothing to his side

8:11or behind him. The growl he realized was only the Lancel's French bulldoctor's life, probably not realizing Matthew had spent the night and wondering who the stranger in the bathroom was. Or maybe he senses something besides me in here. Matthew thought. He looked back at the mirror just in time to see if I breathed as if he had tapped on it. The dark shape in a clearing steam was gone. And so, Matthew realized was the terrible smell. Sly continued barking at the door until Matthew opened it. He had only taken the time to put on his shirt and underwear. Sly moved right past him and began sniffing around the bathroom. Get out of there, you weirdo, Gavin chastise from the hallway. He appeared in the doorway and immediately threw a protective hand over his eyes. Oh God, what have you done to me? He cried. He pretended to stumble as he pointed a trembling finger at Matthew's tidy white eyes. Matthew didn't laugh, but he did reach for his pants. He never had any problems with the water here. Matthew asked as he slid into his jeans. Oh, it never comes out hard enough, Gavin answer. Any like weird smells though.

9:13Matthew asked. Sly was still sniffing all over. He trying to blame your heralduse on the shower, bro. What? Though? Matthew sounded too defensive as most teens were when accused of something as awful as performing a bodily function. His tone only made him some more guilty. Aventice and Matthew parried until the shower incident had all but left his puffy, tired mind completely. By the time the rousing ended, he was back to feeling tired and groggy. He didn't have any desire to give his friend more reason to tease him. He returned to the bedroom with Sly and Toe, while Gavin took his own shower apparently without incident. When his hosts finished, they both were downstairs and were greeted by the entirely unwrote girl like a room of pancakes and bacon. Sly, whose full name was Sylvester, named by James Wanlina, wouldn't let him name the dog groggy hovered around Matthew for the rest of the morning. He wasn't hostile, but definitely on edge. If Matthew moved too quickly or made a sound such as a cough or sneeze, Sly would instantly jumped his feet with his tail raised. Come on boy, let's go outside, James said, after tiring of the dog's behaviour about halfway through breakfast.

10:14They had eaten all of the bacon and most of the pancakes had been distributed, although the ones currently on everyone's plates were disappearing at much lower rate than the first round. After James let Sly into the backyard, the dog turned back around to stare at the house for a moment before going about his business. What's gotten into him today? Lina asked, maybe you boys kept him up too late with all that banging around, James suggested. Matthew couldn't tell if it was a playful remark or an admonition. His tone could have read as, let's not repeat that again tonight. We weren't up that late, Gavin said. Well then, who was stomping around a through a cock this morning? Asked Lina. Gavin said, wasn't us. Matthew more respectfully explained. You went to bed around one, I think. I didn't get up at all, did you? He looked at Gavin. Gavin shook his head. How guess we have ghosts, James shrugged. Oh, Lina cried as she launched up from her chair. The bows looked at her with disdain, thinking her antics were an attempt to startle them. No, no, no, no. This is not a joke. I just felt like something grabbing me.

11:16The look on her face could not have been feigned. What do you mean? James asked. It felt like my chair was wrapping around me, I swear. I like it turned into a giant hand for a second. No one believed her, obviously, but they all squirm sledding in their own chairs. Want me to look at it? James offered confusedly. No, no, that's alright. She slowly sat back down. She lifted her fork, then her knife. Then both utensils clotted to the ground and Lina jumped back to her feet. It happened again. Now James looked under the table as if trying to catch the chair in the act, but all he saw was an ordinary chair. He got up and stooped to retrieve Lina's silverware. When he stood again, they were face to face. Why don't you go start cleaning up and I'll check out the chair, James said. Lina said nothing but nodded and brushed past him. He boys done. James asked. They also answered silently, picking up their place to carry them to the kitchen. James watched them leave, then flocked back to the chair like an insect. Quietly he said, nobody touches my wife, you hear.

12:16He didn't know why he said this. The she may himself. To break the tension? Well, it didn't work. He wiggled the chair to see if anything came loose, but it seemed to be in good shape. He remembered Sly right before going upstairs to shower. He called to the boys in the kitchen. Can you guys let Sly in for me? I got it, Matthew said. He wanted to get away from Lina. Although it wasn't really her fault, she was creeping him out, her chair episode had reminded Matthew of the shape in the mirror. He was thinking of every scary move he had ever seen. The demon ghost, Poltergeist, or even killer always seemed to fix it on one specific person, and anyone else who happened to be around was collateral damage. Matthew would never admit this to himself, but he ran out of the kitchen that morning because he didn't want to be collateral damage. He opened the back door and called into the wet morning air. Sly, Sly, come. Matthew couldn't see the dog, but the yard was fenced in so he couldn't have gone anywhere. Matthew stepped out and loved around. Sly, he called. Silverster. This time, Matthew thought he heard a short whimper.

13:17He called again and, yes, whimpering answered from James Plastic Shed. The miniature grey building was locked from the outside with a sliding bolt, so Matthew had no idea how psyched have gotten in. Still, he ended the bolt to look inside. Sly ran straight up and ducked behind Matthew's legs, clearly terrified of something in the shed, or perhaps the shed itself. Matthew looked around until he was satisfied, then shot and locked the shed. He pet Sly from in it before leading him inside. I turned around frequently to look behind them on the way to the door. Has he ever shut himself in the shed before? Matthew asked Gavin who happened to be right there when he opened the back door. Sly, he couldn't open it if he wanted to, Gavin said. That's what I thought. I just found him locked in there. Well, don't tell Mom because she'll freak out. She's still acting weird because of the chair thing. Matthew was only partially surprised that Gavin brushed what he said aside. He himself had brushed aside everything that had happened in the bathroom. Hey, you want to go to the skate park? Gavin asked. Matthew said, yeah, sure.

14:18He accepted because he felt the same desire to get out of the house that made Gavin off of the idea. The two of them were out the door five minutes later. James created some car projects to work on in the driveway, suddenly realizing it had been a while since he checked all his fluid levels and tested the battery. And the bricks were probably due to be replaced, he said. Lena thought the porch furniture needed some touch up paint. Perhaps a whole new coat. The big breakfast allowed them all to stay out until mid afternoon. Even after those stomachs began to grumble, they kept it side of the house. James was the first to break. Hey, I'm going to go make a sandwich. You want anything? He asked Lena before going inside. She asked for an apple. James went inside and immediately heard a muted but desperate scratching sound coming from somewhere further in. He hustled for the living room into the dining room, where he snatched Lena's apple out of the fruit bucket in the middle of the table. He could hear the scratching slightly louder. Between scratches, James could hear whimpering. These noises led him to the kitchen pantry. James opened the door, which only latched with a magnet strip, and Sly rushed out.

15:21What were you doing in there, boy? James asked. Sly took a step away from the kitchen until to just head as if saying, get out of there at man. All right, James follow. Once they were in the living room, Sly nestled against James legs. What is going on with you? He asked to scratch him behind the dog's ears. Sly's ears perked up, but not because of James' touch. The dog went stiff and pointed his nose toward the dining room. One chair was visible through the doorway. Lena's chair. James washed it, somewhat expecting it to self and morph into a big wooden hand. Before his eyes, the crossbow between the chair's front legs dropped off and rolled across the floor. He and Sly were out the front door before the crossbow stopped rolling. James brought Lena her apple and made himself forget about the sandwich, though his stomach would try reminding him many times. He convinced himself a fast was in order after the pancake breakfast anyway. After putting Sly in the backyard, he put his head and attention back onto the car's hood. Two eyes later, the boys came home to an empty house with a sticky note on the front door. It read, went to get pizza back soon.

16:23You have a key? Matthew asked. Gavin grunted and sat down in the step. Matthew took that to me now. A yet for a best startled them both. They turned upward and listen as the sound repeated twice more. Matthew located the window from which Sly was crying and tried to give him a wave to say everything's all right, but the dog wasn't facing the window. What's he doing? Matthew asked Gavin. Gavin said nothing. In between yips Sly issued a fierce protestant bark. His rear end was backed all the way against the window. Whatever he was scared of was inside the house, nod out. Try out the door as Gavin ordered. He tore around to the back. Matthew flipped up the welcome mat to see if a spear key might be underneath. He quickly scanned nearby rocks to see if any licks are suspicious enough to be hiding a key. No luck. Everything is locked. Gavin announced, returning from around the corner. Fortunately, Gavin's parents appeared up the road, already returning with fresh, warm pizza. When they pulled in, the boys assailed them. They passed off two pizza boxes on Gavin and Matthew stepped aside so she could get out

17:23of the car. She quickened toward the afterlooking app and seeing Sly's hard tail pressed against the glass upstairs. With hands trembling ever so slightly, she unlocked the door. James went inside first. Sly? He called upstairs. The dogs helpless barking continued. Lena tipped her inside but stayed close to the door. James went upstairs and Sly's barking finally ceased. Lena breathed easier when Sly came down the stairs carried in her husband's arms, looking tired but unharmed. At the foot of the stairs, James set Sly down and made sure he wasn't hurt anywhere. Matthew and Gavin stepped inside behind Lena. It was the weirdest thing, James said. She was just up in Gettin's room barking at the closet. It was open too. She could see straight in. Wasn't anything there though. Can dogs have nightmares? Gavin asked sounding weirdly but understandably hopeful. All I had to do was pick her up and she was fine. Look at her, she's acting like nothing happened. And Noth came from above their heads. Tap, tap, tap.

18:23Only Matthew looked up. Who was that? He asked. Was what? Lena asked. Did you hear that knocking sound? I heard it last night too. Yeah, that's just the pipes, James said. They do that now and then. Just one of the funny house noises we've had to get used to. Every home has its quirks, Lena remarked. Matthew swallowed and looked to Gavin who looked at him like he was crazy. Matthew told him I thought it was he banging on the wall while I was changing yesterday. He knocked back. No, I didn't Gavin said. Matthew looked betrayed. The pizza's herbal aroma was making his stomach rumble. He hadn't eaten since breakfast and felt a little light-headed. He couldn't quite think straight. So he didn't think. He acted. He knocked on a side table decorated with family photos. Knock, knock, knock. The pattern repeated over their heads once more. Now, Matthew had the Lancel's attention. Since they were all looking up though, none of them noticed slice ears perk up or his legs bend slightly, becoming prime springs.

19:24With false confidence, Matthew knocked on the table again. Knock, knock, knock. There was a brief pause during which Matthew thought nothing would happen. It would be embarrassing for him, which is a devastating prospect for a 13-year-old, but never had he wandered so badly to look the fool. Instead, they were all made to look like fools. A booming thump thump, thump thump overhead rattled the windows and the picture frames knew Matthew's hand. All four of them ducked and made various utterances, some profane. Why is she one aggressive bark, then seemed to regret this and retreated behind a couch? James ran back upstairs. James come back, Lena begged. She said boys go outside, but no one listened to her. The boys were listening to James running room to room, shouting at whoever was there to show themselves. It answered back last night too, Matthew said, in the bathroom. I thought it was you knocking, Gavin. No, dude, I'm serious. That was me, Gavin insisted. After who was it? Lena asked Matthew as if he would know. He looked up at the ceiling and surved.

20:25I then, James, had stopped yelling. They could hear him opening doors here and there, but a few seconds later, he came back down. All right boys, he said in a forcely humorous tone. He pulled a good one on us. How'd you do it? Do what? Gavin asked indignantly. You too really hanness going today? This is one of those internet challenges, isn't it? Dad, we didn't do anything. Gavin insisted. Yeah, no, we aren't doing any of this, confirm Matthew. Yeah, okay. Well listen, I know it's all good fun, but please don't lock Slay up again. That's cruel. He's been acting all weird since you shot him in a pantry. We didn't do that, Gavin shouted, his anger grow. I'd never do anything to Slay. One was he locked in a pantry, Matthew asked. His earners tone instantly made James doubt the theory he had spun up while searching the top floor. This afternoon, James said. Gavin argued we were at the freaking skate park, Dad. Um, I found him locked in your shed this morning. Does that ever happen? Matthew asked.

21:25Lena said, guys, this beat is going to get cold. Can we eat while we talk about this? I'm starving. James agreed that they should all sit down and enjoy the pizza. He would be consequences for any more pranks, especially any involving the dog. Matthew and Gavin quietly absorbed his admonition like a couple of outclass boxers taking hits, they stood no chance of locking. They sat at the dining room table, after James replaced the chair he had seen come apart earlier with spare one in the closet. While Lena ate, she did her best to pump the conversation full of airy topics like movers and TV shows. If the conversation ever waned, which happened frequently since they were all putting up a fast, she couldn't stop herself from thinking about her chair morphing into a hand to grab her. The boys prepared for bed after a much shorter night of gaming. This time, when Matthew went into the hallway bathroom to change, he could hear Mr. and Mrs. Slantzel clanging around in the kitchen. He wasn't sure exactly what dishes they were cleaning, since they had eaten a pizza over napkins, but they were staying up by occupying themselves with something down there. This comforted Matthew little. Although he secretly wished it was his own parents making their racket dampsters, he was

22:28glad to have the next best thing. Slire was still hanging out in Gavin's room, so Matthew knew he was okay to. He finally felt enough at least to maybe hopefully get some sleep. After Matthew changed, he went back and found Gavin playing with the rubber bands again. He said, I think I'm just going to sleep. Without looking up, Gavin said, it's only like 10.30. I know, but I'm so tired. Gavin's rubber band shot across the room and struck the closet door. It pinged off and fell pathetically onto the floor at the foot of Matthew's sleeping bag. Gavin's head dipped back onto his pillow when he closed his eyes. He said, he, yeah, I guess I'm too. Since Gavin showed no sign of moving, Matthew turned off the light before laying down. The curtains were still partially open, having been closed only enough to cut the glare off of Gavin's TV, but Matthew opted to leave them alone. He liked to faint light's cleansing blue glow. Gavin actually beat him to sleep. The rhythm of his friend's snores eventually walked Matthew to the edge of consciousness and let him drift away. Matthew dreamt that he was back in his own house. He would later reflect on how much he must have truly wanted to be home that night.

23:31Sadly, he was alone in the dream. The visuals were quite hazy, but the feeling of sadness, separation, was practically tangible. It felt less like an emotion, and more like the very blood pumping through Matthew's ethereal heart, traveling throughout every part of him, informing his movements and thoughts. When he became aware of the dream, he had been sandy in his living room, but now he found himself in his bed. His own fur and mattress supported all of him, but his head, which rested in a valley on his plush pillar. The bed had no covers, though, which left him entirely exposed. Underwear only appeared on him after he realized his nakedness, like Adam suddenly coming alive into Garden of Eden. A knock on a faraway door lifted his dreamself, almost literally, out of bed. Before he knew it, he was traveling toward the sound. The space around him vey-de-resumbled his home. The rooms were too far apart, the ceiling too high, but he still knew where he was. He navigated his way without thinking. The knock came again, and Matthew suddenly realized he had reached the front door. His parents were on the other side. This realization came along with the appearance of the much too tall door.

24:31He put his hand on the knob and turn, but the bolt was shut. He moved his hand on locket and found himself on the wrong side of the lock. No, not the lock. He was on the wrong side of the door. He was outside now. His parents knocked yet again, but now they were knocking from inside. Were they telling him to knock to be let in? Desperate for his parents embrace, Matthew knocked back. Matthew. Someone behind him shouted. He turned toward the sound. It was Gavin, only Gavin with tiny yellow piece for eyes which rested in dark craters above a gaping, a natural mouth full of teeth which had stayed small while the rest of the mouth grew large. Matthew. Gavin shouted again. Only this time it was normal Gavin. He was laying in his bed with the covers pulled up to his neck, but they were in his room. Gavin's room. Gavin's room in his new house. Matthew wrinkles his nose and squinted. He was standing up dressed in a sleep clothes in front of the closet. His right arm was raised in a fist and inch away from the door. What are you doing? Gavin whispered. I might don't the doughnut clicked and the closet door popped out a little as if the

25:34frame wasn't quite the right fit. Matthew took a step back. The door started swinging outward from a perfect standstill. Matthew stepped further back. Gavin pulled his covers up another inch. The back of Matthew's heel tapped the leg of Gavin's bed, startling him aware enough to duck behind a bent for cover. The door only stopped moving once it had opened 90 degrees. Then the hall room became still. The door acted as a shield against the moonlight, cast in the corner behind it into perfect backness, a blackness which matched the interior of the closet. The boy stared into it, feeling as if it was staring back. Or perhaps there was something hidden in the new shadow. Maybe what ever had opened the door now looked there. They waited and stared, each individually wondering if they should yell for the adults in the house. At least then somebody would open the door, maybe let in some light from the hallway. Matthew and Gavin couldn't even reach the light switch without getting close to the closet and the shadow. Matthew heard a sound like wind whipping through a flag. Gavin shouted in coherent words as his bedsheets tore away from him on their own. They flew into the closet in a messy bundle and the closet door slung shut.

26:37Matthew stood over the bed and grabbed Gavin's arm. What was that? What was that? He asked again and again as Gavin hyperventilated below him. They could hear disorganized sounds coming from another room. Slice started barking. At Gavin being more aware of anything that existed beyond the closet, he would have known Slie was barking at the door of his parents' room demanding to be let out. The closet popped open again. The door swung open to 90 degrees. It looked like Gavin's sheets had been draped over his hanging clothes and were dangling above the floor. Another door opened outside the room and the tiny sounds of Slie's pulsed sliding across the hardwood immediately followed. In a second the dog was at the door to the room, barking uncontrollably. The bedsheets in the closet moved. They separated from the clothes and the rack, but didn't fall. The boys watched them float forward, coming into the light with the shape of a tall thin man beneath them. They stopped just outside of the closet and hover there. The shapes had slowly pivoted back and forth from Gavin to Matthew to Gavin and back. James knocked politely and asked everything alright. Gavin screamed, dad, help.

27:38The words barely escaped his inexplicably-parched throat. James almost broke down the door. His shoulder hit it before his hand had fully turned the knob. He stumbled into the darker and just in time to see the last bedsheet fluttered down to the floor. Slie went straight for it. He started ripping into the fallen sheets, searching for an enemy that had vanished if it had ever physically been there at all. From somewhere in the wall came a knock. James turned toward it. He angrily drew his fist back, preparing to respond with the brunt of his anger. By now, Lena had appeared in the doorway and her lips parted in surprise as seeing her husband about to hammer fist the drywall. Stop, Matthew cried. Don't, Mr. Lancel. James fist clenched and unclenched with his heartbeat. He turned his head halfway back and asked, why? What is it? The kid's voice had had so much conviction it made James Polo's for the second time that night. Don't knock back, Matthew said. I think that's what started this off and what's keeping it going. Did you see that thing? Gavin asked. The knock repeated this time louder. Yeah, but what if the knocking is like inviting it to mess with us?

28:42Remember, he thought it was just plumbing or something, right? Matthew asked Gavin. Every house makes sounds like that, Lena argued. Yeah, but I think he's a different. I don't know why. Just don't knock back, though, okay? We'll give it a try, James said. The knock repeated once more, but sounded more hesitant. It was clear that James still wanted to respond, but he resisted. Instead, he asked, so what did you boys see anyway? After the boys described the bedsheets flying into and out of the closet, the Lancel's decided to move everybody to the living room to camp out together for safety. They put move his on, mid-snacks, and most of them stayed away until around four in the morning. Only Lena drifted off sooner than that. The following day, Matthew called his parents and got their permission for himself and the Lancel's to stay in their house until they returned. He told them he was okay and that he would explain more later on, but that the Lancel's new house wasn't safe to stay in right now. The Lancel's made a tough decision to give up the house and move back into an apartment until the next opportunity arrived. During the process of selling, packing, and moving out, they heard plenty of knocks and

29:43taps and thumbs that all went unanswered. Transporting, if not confirming, Matthew's theory. They were left alone. After moving out, Lena and James mailed an envelope to their old address, made up to current residents. They left the return address blank. The envelope was empty except for three words written across the inside of the flap. Don't knock back.