The house on third street—Chapter two: Forever inside

“Get in here!” he shouted. “No one lives here!”

They didn’t argue.

They rushed inside before any of them had time to question how big the house was.

The door slammed shut behind them.

They crouched behind a heavy dresser just inside the entryway, hearts racing, listening as something hit the front door with a dull thud. A sharp whine followed.

Then another.

Then nothing.
The sound faded.

They stayed frozen.

Seconds passed. Then minutes.

The only noise left was the slow, steady ticking of a grandfather clock—

one that shouldn’t have been working.

“I think it’s gone,” Felicity whispered, crushed between Max and Payton.

Max peeked around the dresser, then straightened, a grin spreading across his face.

“Oh,” he said. “It is.”

The background noise seemed to fade, like the house was listening.

They stepped out slowly, turning back the way they’d come.

“Hey, guys?” Payton said.

“Yeah?” Emily and Felicity answered at the same time.

Max wasn’t paying attention. He had found a far-too-old cowboy hat and plopped it onto his head.

Payton stared. “Why is that even here?”

“Because,” Max said solemnly, “this house clearly has excellent taste.”

Felicity snorted. “Put it back.”

Max sighed and returned the hat to the coat rack, glancing up when he noticed everyone staring.

“What?”

Payton frowned and took a step forward. “Wasn’t the exit… that way?”

They all turned.

There was no front door.

Max’s eyes widened. “Guys. You’ll never guess what this means.”

“What?”

“What, Max?”

“Spit it out!”

“It means,” he said with fake excitement, “the exit is the other way.”

They groaned but followed him down the hallway.

“No,” Felicity muttered. “I don’t remember this hallway.”

Emily nodded slowly. “Me neither.”

“Maybe it was just dark,” Payton said. “Emily and I will check this side. City, Maximilian—stay together.”

Felicity nodded, her stomach twisting as the groups split.

Max picked up a small box and flipped it over. “Is the exit under this one?”

Before Felicity could answer—

A shriek tore through the house.

Her heart dropped. “Emmy,” she breathed—and ran.