Chapter 28

Vera’s POV

A sharp crash jolted me from sleep.

I blinked against the soft yellow glow of the bedside lamp, my hand fumbling for the phone. The time read 2:09 a.m. The house was silent, eerily so, but that sound I’d heard definitely wasn’t a dream.

Another crash echoed through the walls, louder this time. I froze. It was followed by a sharp clatter, then the door creaked and slammed repeatedly, like someone was forcing it open and shut again and again.

I turned to Jack and tapped him lightly.

He stirred. "What’s going on?" he asked groggily, then sat up when he caught the tension on my face.

"I’ve been hearing noises. Things crashing… and the door. It keeps slamming."

He was instantly alert. “Stay here. I’ll check it out.”

But I didn’t listen. My instincts wouldn’t let me stay behind. I followed him quietly as he crept toward the stairs. He glanced back and sighed when he saw me right behind him, but didn’t object.