Eggshell white, gold filigree, forget-me-nots, four leaf clover, and a grey line running from rim to bottom. I held the cup gingerly in my hand, trying not to let fear show in my face to Mr. Kopf or Kaylee.

'None of it's broken or chipped.' But no matter how many times I told myself it wasn't there; I couldn't make the crack disappear from the cup.

"Thank you, Mr. Kopf," I said. "We don't want to take up any more of your time."

"Do you me favor, Ms. Hadder and ask your mom to double check under my sister's bed when she's on duty. It makes her feel safer."

"I'm not supposed to talk to her about patients. It violates the doctor privacy code. Sorry," I said.

"Never mind. You both might consider leaving town, too," he said. He ran a hand through his hair and left it at the back of his head. "Or keep your scissors handy."

"Bye. Have a nice day," Kaylee said.

We walked to the car; for my part in a total daze. On the passenger seat, I whispered, "I need hot chocolate."

"Me too. And apple pie."

"Yeah, and a scoop of ice-cream."

"And maybe some more hot chocolate," she said, checking the rear-view mirror to back up the car. "Brooklyn, will you look in the back seat and tell me what you see?"

A chill ran through me, scalp to toes. Very slowly, I twisted to look at the seat, expecting anything from rats to a knife wielding scarecrow. "I see a hairy spider about the size of a hamster," I said, relieved.

"Could you get it out of my car before I have a panic attack?" Kaylee asked.

"Sure." I can handle spiders. I'd rather deal with spiders than phantom rats and strange noises any day of the week. I used a Kleenex to pick it up and toss it into the grass.

"Do you think my aunt has some psychic connection to whatever is going on in this town?" she asked me when I returned.

"It's either that or she has psychotic episodes and hallucinations. She could be the same as Kopf's sister."

"If I convinced her to move out of town, we'd have a place to stay," Kaylee said.

I watched out the window as we drove through the neighborhoods towards Cuppa Joe's. The houses here were for built in the 50's; quaint and square with tidy lawns and lots of white trim. Until we passed one house that was overgrown with ivy and had a red high heel abandoned in the driveway. A shadow moved behind a broken window. Did I see that?

"I don't know what to believe any more. I don't know what to trust or what's real," I said. I was in quicksand and my only plan of action was to not thrash around too much. It was as terrifying as the mud the soldiers pushed me into.

Kaylee shook her head. "Whatever you do, don't get yourself sent to the looney bin, no offense to your mom. They might make you worse. Which is kind of depressing and really scary."

She was right. "Hot chocolate?" I asked.

"Hot chocolate."

After filling ourselves up on hot chocolate and several desserts at Cuppa Joe's, Kaylee dropped me off in my parking lot. She offered to come in, but I told her Señora Ramírez was supposed to be babysitting me.

I waved as she drove off. Climbing the covered stairs to my apartment door, I got my key ready, my mind lost in everything Mr. Kopf had told us. I opened the door and stepped inside. I was closing it when a foot blocked the door, breaking me from my reverie.

"Oh, Brooklyn," said Mrs. Walters, "it's so nice to see you again. I should have called, I know, but could I come in for a chat?"

She had been waiting for me next to the neighbor's outdoor closet. She had been standing in the dark, waiting for me to come home.

My hand tightened on the door handle. Was Señora Ramírez there? I couldn't hear anything. "Hi, Mrs. Walters, you-"

"Jane! Remember? You're supposed to call me Jane," she said, smiling broadly.

"This isn't a good time. I've got chores-"

"I just came by to talk and see how you're doing," she said. Her tone of voice rang false.

"I'm sorry, how about some other time?"

"Let me in, Brooklyn, we have to talk about you seeing Levi in the woods," she said, anger seeping into her low whisper.

I wavered, wondering what she could possibly say. She could tell me things, perhaps. During my second of indecision, I noticed lines appearing on the wall not far from my shoulder. Letters were being scratched by an invisible hand.

Do

Do what? I wondered, hypnotized.

Don

Don Juan? Donuts? Hysteria crept up through my chest. I tried to swallow or run or do anything.

Mrs. Walters leaned forward, catching my attention. "Brooklyn," she said, "you didn't see him when you were in the forest. Let me in. We need to talk."

Don't

Don't let her in? Don't be afraid? Too late for that.

"We can go somewhere else," I offered, desperate to get out of there.

"I want to talk now," she whispered low and urgent. "Look at me you little brat. I heard about the lies you told. That my Levi is out there. Well, you're wrong. He is home with us."

"Mrs. Walters, leave right now or I'll have to call the police," I said. Right after I got the hell out of there. I was ready to push her over, and run for my life.

Her hand went into her purse.

Don't turn

I sucked in my breath. Don't turn? As in don't turn around? The smell of wet earth and mold rose up from the floor.

Levi's mother froze, her eyes going slowly from my face to just over my shoulder. She covered her mouth, eyes wide. The sweet stench of decay and mud grew stronger.

Something was standing right behind me. I didn't move. I didn't turn. Holding back a cry, I kept perfectly still, hoping to not draw anything's attention.

"No," she whispered, strangling. She backed away, hitting the opposite apartment. "No!" She ran headlong for the stairs, throwing herself at the rail.

I still didn't move. I heard her thump down the wooden stairs to the ground. Smells of rotting marsh land eddied around me. My instincts screamed to run, but I held myself at the doorway.

"Who's there?" I ask, voice barely audible. "What are you?"

le

Levi!

leave

"What are you?" I whispered, desperate.

RUN

I dashed for the landing. Señora Ramírez called my name.

"Brooklyn, is that you here?" she asked from the entryway. "Were you talking?"

I paused at the stairs and wrapped my arms around my stomach. "Señora Ramírez! You're here. How long have been there? Did you see anyone in the hallway?"

"No, I didn't see somebody. The scratchers woke me up from when I was sleeping on the couch. Damn scratchers make more noise in your home than in my one. They are crawling in the lines this time for sure."

"You didn't see anything? There was nothing in the hallway? You're positive?"

"I am pretty darn sure."

I was shaking and afraid I would throw up. "Can we go to your apartment? I..."

She nodded, and went in to get her things. Handing me my scissors, she said, "My home is better. More food in the fridge."

An hour or so later, my mom called. She was supposed to be at work, and it surprised me to see her name on my screen.

"Mom?"

"Brooklyn, are you all right?" she whispered urgently. The hairs on my neck and arms immediately prickled upwards.

"I'm fine. I'm at Señora Ramírez's apartment."

"Gracias a Dios! I called the house, you weren't there, and I was so afraid," my mom said. "I'm not supposed to tell you, if anybody knows, I will lose my job. Sean and Levi's parents are here. Mrs. Walters...has come in for treatment. One of the nurses told me she came to our apartment to talk to you and that she saw something. Is this true?"

It took me a second to be able to answer. What had Levi's mom seen behind me? I told my mom vaguely what happened, saying Mrs. Walters had come, but then suddenly got scared. I omitted the scratched words on the wall. An icy hook in my stomach told me I would never feel safe in my home again. "Is Mrs. Walters staying at the institution for a while?"

"Tonight at least and so is Mr. Walters. We gave him some...well, I'm not supposed to say. They are here all night."

"She was really weird, Mom, and I need to talk to you about-"

"I have to get on my rounds. I'm so happy you are safe. Stay where you are. I have to work until midnight, if you want to sleep at Señora Ramírez's that's fine, send me a message, though. And don't tell anyone at all I spoke about one of the patients. Yes?"

I promised and we hung up. The Walters were both at the mental institute tonight. I had mixed feelings about that, I had to admit. But something Mrs. Walters had said was bothering me.

'He is home with us.' What if they were responsible for Sean and Levi disappearing? Just like Mother Goodie and the macabre altar in the attic?

It made me sick to imagine.

There was only one way to know for sure. Smothering the grave misgivings in my gut, I called Kaylee.

"Hey, can you give me a ride somewhere?" I asked.

"You're not seriously going in there." Kaylee popped her gum and shook her head in a slow uh-uh.

"I am seriously going in there. The whole thing freaked me out, but what she said about Levi being at home has got me thinking."

"Brooklyn. Mrs. Walters just checked into the looney bin! Tell the police what she said and they will investigate. In the meantime we could be watching Buffy reruns! And eating popcorn."

"You know I'm a Twizzler girl for movie night," I said, stepping out of the car onto the dark pavement. The neighborhood was sparsely lit by a few street lamps and glowing porches.

"Then don't leave any evidence of going in, like your fingerprints or dead body!" Kaylee whispered. "And speaking of, if any supernatural creatures attack you, text me so I can save myself!"

"Are you sure you're a cheerleader? You are way smart." I hadn't thought of fingerprints. But if I found a couple of hacked off body parts, there would be a serious investigation as soon as I left an anonymous tip for the police.

"Stereotypes hurt real people, Brooklyn, and so do psychopaths."

"I'll remember it," I said. I checked for cars or anyone walking their dog, but it was late and the road was clear. I jogged around to the back on the house, sticking to the trees and darkness.

Under the steps leading up to the porch, I found the spare key that was probably untouched since Levi and Sean were taken. Keeping my sleeves over my hands as makeshift gloves, I let myself in the kitchen.

I thought that going into the house I knew so well would be easy. Easier than coming here to visit Mr. and Mrs. Walters. I was wrong.

At night and empty except for me, the house had a whole new personality. During my visits it was closed and tight around me, to the point of stifling. Now it felt alive. I told myself the house was not malevolent and it could not be watching me, but every step felt like a trap ready to spring on me.

I forced myself to cross the kitchen, bolstering my confidence with the thought that if I exposed who took the brothers, maybe we could find peace and healing.

The basement was the first place I would check. The floorboards gave tiny moans under my feet, making me wince. I reached the door and turned the handle with my sleeved fingers. It swung towards me, giving a pained squeal. Blackness swallowed the stairs at my feet.

***Sorry for the long wait in between updates! I hope this was worth it. Please let me know anything you are wondering about or feel like screaming to the world! Have a great day and thanks for reading. <3<3<3 ***