I hide here. I haven't opened the closet door in forever. It's warm in here... not hot, just warm.

They stopped looking for me outside, but I know they'll start again soon. I think they can sense me.

I'm scared they know I'm here. I wish they thought I was just...gone. Like I vanished into thin air, somewhere they'd never find me.

...

The noises are getting louder. I can actually hear them right now on the other side of the room, moving around. They're talking now, talking about eating and setting the table. They must be in the dining room.

I'm hungry too. My stomach's growling so loud, I put my hand over it. But it doesn't help.

Maybe I could just disappear. I think about opening the closet, but I'm too scared. I'll wait until they're all at the table.

I hear more stuff moving around on the other side. Is it Mr. Darris? It could be. The noises are getting louder and louder, and I can kinda make out what he's saying.

"Put that freaking fork down and go wash your hands! You hear me? I'll cut your fingers off and feed them to Kip. Go wash your damn hands!"

I feel a weird tingling in my stomach. Like, I'm getting all goosebumpy. I hear footsteps walking away. Then, thump. Mr. Darris probably just sat down with everyone else, and Justin went to wash up. But what if he didn't wash his hands...?

I start pushing on the closet door, just enough to see that the room, once filled with candlelight and lamp glow, is now totally dark.

Oh no, the power's out. It's probably like this everywhere in Harborfield. I don't think I'm gonna make it.

I gasp for air. I can't say stuff like that now, not after I've come this far. Slowly, I close the closet door. It doesn't make much noise. Now, I just have to wait for Justin to come back from the bathroom. Hopefully, he'll hurry up.

I hear more steps getting closer. Justin finally washed his hands, but now I'm sure he's gonna burst in here, rip open the closet, and find me. Then I'm dead.

But nothing happens, like always. I just keep hearing footsteps until they stop. Then there's this one big thump and a bunch of weird noises.

Should I wait a little longer? I waited a little longer, then I knew I had to go. I put my hands on the closet doors and pushed. Finally, the doors opened wide enough to squeeze through. Luckily, I was only wearing socks to be quiet.

I took a few steps and could already hear them yelling. Ugh, not this again. I tried to act like it was no big deal, but I was freaking out inside. Before I even got to the door, I grabbed the keys from the table. You never know when you might need them, you know?

Once I get close to the door, I hear someone else sit down in the dining room. That must be Justin. I start to turn the doorknob, and all these scary things pop into my head.

I keep twisting the knob 'til it won't turn anymore. Then I crouch down, peeking out to make sure no one's watching. There are a bunch of little tables in the hall with those cloth things hanging down. I could hide under one of those, maybe...

I used this chance to slide under the table quickly, making sure no one saw me. Now, I just gotta wait for the perfect moment to slip back out and head to the basement. I'm sure there's a vent down there. I used to sneak through it all the time when I was playing hide-and-seek or just wanted to be alone.

They probably already looked down there, right? But they won't expect me to go back...will they? I swear they can sense me, though.

Knock knock What the heck was that? A window? Who could it be? Some dumb salesman? Or some weird relative I've never met?

More footsteps from the dining room! I'm starting to freak out, but I can't move. I have to stay still."

"GET OFF MY PROPERTY OR ELSE I'LL COME OUTSIDE AND BASH YOUR HEAD IN!" Mr. Darris yelled.

I flinched when he started yelling. Then, there was more knocking. Mr. Darris probably had enough. I heard him get up from his chair, walk down the hall, and go to the window. Why couldn't they just knock on the front door?

Mr. Darris just stood there for like, forever. He didn't say anything, just stared. Then, all of a sudden, I heard this CRASH! He punched the window!

"God, I look so young in the mirror. This isn't a dream, and I'm freaking out! JUSTIN! GET ME MY BAT! NOW! YOU SHIT!" Mr. Darris yelled.

I heard someone else get up from the table and walk away. Mr. Darris was still standing in the hallway, waiting for Justin. When Justin came back with something for Mr. Darris, Mr. Darris lashed at him.

"You idiot! This is a knife, not a bat! I'm going to punish you for this!" Mr. Darris yelled.

Mr. Darris shoved Justin hard against the wall. They were right next to me, and I felt the whole thing. My heart was pounding so fast, I couldn't breathe. My asthma was getting worse. I tried so hard to stay calm, but I was terrified. I didn't care if it hurt – I just didn't want to die.

"Mr. Darris THREW Justin ON the table.

Justin yelled, "OWW!"

I clamped my hand over my mouth.

"Don't move!" Mr. Darris growled.

Justin screamed again, "AHHHHH!"

I heard chopping sounds and I closed my eyes tight. I could feel the floor shaking, like Mr. Darris was really chopping Justin's fingers off! When it finally stopped, Justin was screaming even louder. I bet he lost all ten fingers! The smell of blood was so strong, but I still covered my mouth.

"Next time, bring me my bat, or I'll go for your toes," Mr. Darris muttered, stomping away.

Justin was a mess, leaning against the table and sobbing like a crazy person.

I couldn't stand it.

...

The footsteps of Justin leaving almost shook me. I tried to wrap my head around the idea that someone else, at least a sane person, could've been walking outside and still be alive.

It's not one of those weird animals, that's for sure. If it was, they would've shattered the window with their knocking.

I listened for more noise near the dining room. The only thing I could hear was muffled talking—all the same.

For some reason, my foot hurt, and I tried to adjust it without touching the table or the cloth, but I heard someone get up from the dining room table, so I froze.

"LET ME WATCH MY TV!" Scarlet screamed.

Scarlet?! God, I hope she stays where she is...

"The power done gone out! You stay put, missy! Or I'll give you a good whuppin'. Hey, Nit, toss her some beans over there. Shh... she knows darn well she ain't full yet..." Mr. Darris said.

What if Scarlet were to come this way?

I waited a while longer, but nothing happened. It looks like I'm stuck here until they finish eating and, hopefully, decide to go to bed.

To get to the basement, I'll need Mr. Darris's keys.

...

I had fallen asleep in an uncomfortable position under the table. Luckily, I wasn't a snorer, or I'd probably be dead by now.

I heard something hitting the window, but it wasn't the same noise from hours earlier. It was probably raining outside. Then, there was thunder. With each bolt, I twitched, almost as though I were outside soaking in the cold rain and mud, the stench of blood still heavy in the air.

I slowly extended my arm out from under the table, and once my head was clear, I looked both ways. All of the candles had gone out, which didn't explain the other miniature sounds I could hear down the hallway.

I started to come out from under the table. Once I was clear, my eyes locked on the bottom of the stairs—just past the kitchen and dining room. I didn't check the corners of the walls for cameras; I knew there weren't any. Right now, I was worried about Nit, the grandfather who was sleeping on the couch in the living room across from the dining room.

I tried my best not to make any noise, but I was appalled that they hadn't cleaned up the dining room table. All of their food was still there. Not knowing when my next meal would be, or if I'd even live to see one, I reached out for the half-eaten steak. Just then, I heard someone flush the toilet in the bathroom near the bottom of the stairs.

THAT MUST BE JUSTIN! HIS FINGERS...

I think fast, almost too fast, nearly bumping into something as I slip behind a wall.

I hear Justin limping toward the living room where Nit was presumably sleeping on the couch.

Why is he going toward Nit?

I hear more limping, then a loud bang followed by a gasp. Justin and Nit are fighting, and I can hear Nit struggling to breathe.

A loud stomp, then more stomps. I wince. Justin is stomping on Nit's head, taking out his anger on him because he knows he's too weak to confront Mr. Darris.

I should make my move now...

My other hiding spot is the latch. Before the family went crazy, I created multiple hiding spots because, even at my age, I was obsessed with hide-and-seek...

I quickly move toward the small section near the bottom of the stairs and use the keys to open the latch. When I unlock it, it makes a small clicking noise that worries me. I crawl into the hiding spot and slowly close the latch. Afterward, I hear and feel the vibrations of Justin's footsteps getting closer. I close my eyes, hoping he doesn't know I'm there.

He doesn't.

Justin walks past the latch.

And so, I wait. I wait until I vanish completely.