A Little Girl Called 911 Crying, “Daddy’s Snake Got Out Again…-tete

stopped breathing for half a second.

On the other side of the line, there was a faint sound.

A slow scrape.

Not footsteps exactly.

More like something being dragged carefully across old wood.

“Avery,” Hannah said, “where are you hiding?”

“In my bed.”

“Under the blankets?”

“Yes.”

“Is the phone with you?”

“Yes.”