The next morning Runa found herself on the stoop. The basement door was cracked open. She sat up quickly. Her heart began to race.

"Runa," the voice called.

She grabbed the door and closed it. She slowly stood to her feet. She felt something in her coat pocket. She reached in and pulled out the basement door key. She looked at it, wide-eyed. Then she used it to lock the door. She went upstairs and saw Mendalie passed out in her bed. She closed the door to the bedroom and walked into the kitchen.

The puzzle box sat there, open. She gasped. She grabbed the key back out of her pocket and threw it inside. She closed the box and it clicked shut. She put it back on the shelf and stood there looking at it.

"Meow," Houdini said, and she jumped.

"Houdini!" Runa scolded. "Don't do that!"