The house was unusually quiet that afternoon.

Larry had left earlier, leaving Bethany and Brook alone. Bethany sat quietly in the living room, trying to keep herself calm.

For weeks, Brook had been making her life miserable. Every day, Brook found another reason to provoke her.

Brook walked into the room and stared at Bethany with a cold smile.

Bethany slowly looked up but said nothing.

Bethany took a deep breath.

Brook laughed and stepped closer.

Bethany’s expression changed.

Bethany tried to walk away, but Brook followed her.

Bethany stopped. Her breathing became heavier.

Silence filled the room. Bethany’s eyes moved toward the hallway. A large flowerpot sat near the wall.

Bethany grabbed it.

For one second, Bethany froze.
Then anger took control.

She swung the heavy flowerpot.

CRASH!

Brook fell to the floor. The room became completely silent.

Bethany began walking around the room. Her hands were shaking.

She looked at Brook again. There was no response.

Her eyes landed on an old storage bag near the hallway.

A terrible idea entered her mind.

Bethany struggled as she moved Brook toward the bag. Every few seconds, she looked toward the front door.

Finally, Bethany managed to place Brook inside the bag.

She pulled the bag toward the storage room.

The storage room was dark and filled with old boxes. Broken furniture was stacked against the walls.

Bethany dragged the bag inside and placed it behind several boxes.

She stepped back and stared.

She quickly closed the door.

CLICK.

The lock turned. Bethany thought it was over.

But then… a faint sound came from inside.

TAP.

The front door opened several hours later. Larry walked inside.

Bethany rushed toward him.

Bethany froze.

Larry looked at her carefully. Something about her behavior didn’t feel right.

That night, Bethany couldn’t sleep.

Every time she closed her eyes, she remembered the sound of the flowerpot.

TAP.
TAP.

Bethany slowly walked downstairs. The sound was coming from the storage room.

Bethany’s eyes widened.

Brook was alive.

Bethany reached for the key. Her hand was trembling.

Bethany inserted the key into the lock.

Then a floorboard creaked behind her.

She froze. Slowly, she turned around.

Larry was standing at the bottom of the stairs.

Larry’s eyes moved toward the storage-room door.

Larry looked at the key in her hand.

BANG!

Both of them looked at the door.

BANG!

Bethany couldn’t speak.

Larry’s face changed.

Larry reached for the lock. Bethany stood behind him, terrified.

Suddenly, every light in the house went out.

Complete darkness.

Then came a violent crash from inside the storage room.

Larry stepped back. Bethany couldn’t move.

And then…

Larry grabbed the door handle.

But the door wouldn’t open.

Something heavy was blocking it from the other side.

Then came three slow knocks.

KNOCK.
KNOCK.
KNOCK.

Larry slowly turned toward Bethany.

He knew she was hiding something.

But neither of them knew what was waiting behind that door.

Because Brook might not have been the only person inside the storage room.