My little girl said something hugged her while she slept. I didn’t believe it until the camera caught the bed moving by itself.

I collapsed to my knees, unable to breathe. The temperature was so cold my skin felt like it was burning.

“Rachel!” Daniel coughed, struggling to his feet despite his broken ribs.

The creature didn't pay attention to Daniel; its glowing eyes were fixed on the front door. It could sense Emma sitting outside in the car. It raised its other hand, and out in the driveway, the car horn began to blare continuously—HONK! HONK! HONK!

Emma’s terrified screams echoed through the rain outside.

“No! Leave my daughter alone!” Daniel screamed.

He didn't attack the creature directly. Instead, he lunged toward the open iron cavity in the fireplace, reaching his hand deep into the dark hole to grab the silver-wrapped box.

The moment Daniel touched the box, the creature let out a deafening, glass-shattering shriek. It turned around violently, striking Daniel across the back with its dark tendrils.

Daniel collapsed onto the hearth, bleeding from deep scratches, but he held the box firmly in his hands.

“Rachel... the lighter fluid!” Daniel choked out, holding the box open. Inside lay a blackened silver medallion engraved with an eye, wrapped in human hair. “Pour it! Now!”

I forced myself up from the floor, fighting the paralyzing cold, and grabbed the container of lighter fluid from my bag. I squirted the flammable liquid liberally over the contents of the box and over Daniel’s bleeding hand.