The mother stopped breathing.

The man stared at the shadow creeping closer across the lawn.

Neither of them turned around.

Inside the shed, the boy whispered again.

“Mom… don’t move.”

Her lips trembled.

The man slowly stepped between her and the approaching shadow.

“Who is that?”

She shook her head.

“I don’t know.”

Then the boy started pounding again.

“Mom, let me out!”

The man grabbed the handle.

But the mother screamed and pulled him back.

“No!”

He turned on her.

“Why are you still keeping him in there?”

She covered her mouth, crying so hard she could barely speak.

“Because my son is upstairs.”

The man went completely still.

A bedroom window above them slowly opened.

A frightened ten-year-old boy appeared behind the glass.

Same face.

Same voice.

He looked down at them and whispered,

“Mom… who’s in the shed?”

The pounding behind the wooden door stopped.

Then the thing inside spoke in the boy’s voice one last time.

“Now you understand why she locked me in.”