Chapter 2 - The Escape
Arthur carried Lily down the stairs as fast as his aging legs could manage. The front door seemed miles away, and the air in the house had grown suffocatingly thick. Behind them, a violent pounding erupted from the upstairs hallway. Something was desperately trying to break out of the closet. Lily buried her face in Arthur's shoulder, crying silently. He fumbled with the deadbolt, his sweaty hands slipping against the metal. The pounding upstairs stopped abruptly, replaced by the sound of heavy, dragging footsteps. Arthur finally managed to swing the front door open, rushing out into the cold night air. He placed Lily into the passenger seat of his truck, locking the doors instantly. As he started the engine, he glanced up at the second-story window. A pale, featureless face was pressed against the glass, watching them drive away.
