Chapter 1 - Three Knocks
Lily had been pointing at the same floorboard for three mornings.
At first, Claire called it a toddler’s fascination.
The eighteen-month-old would crawl across the Carter living room, stop beside the sofa, press one small palm against the oak and babble toward the floor.
David laughed the first time.
The second time, Lily pressed her ear down.
The third time, she cried.
That afternoon, David was carrying laundry through the hallway when Lily suddenly crawled faster than he had ever seen her move.
She reached the corner.
Stopped.
Pressed her cheek against the floor.
THUMP.
Lily jerked upright.
“Daddy! There!”
David stopped.
Another sound came from underneath.
Scratch.
Scratch.
Then—
KNOCK.
KNOCK.
KNOCK.
Claire rushed in from the kitchen.
“What happened?”
David dropped beside Lily and pressed his ear against the same board.
Silence.
Then something scraped slowly beneath him.
David pulled Lily backward.
“There’s something underneath.”
“Probably pipes.”
“Pipes don't knock.”
He grabbed a hammer from the open toolbox left from a morning repair.
Claire’s face changed.
“David, stop.”
He looked at her.
It wasn't irritation.
It was fear.
“Why?”
“You'll destroy the floor.”
Another knock.
David raised hammer.
“David!”
CRACK.
The first strike split oak.
Claire grabbed his arm.
He pulled free, and she lost her balance onto the rug.
“Someone’s under us.”
He struck again.
The board broke open.
Darkness.
A narrow cavity extended below the living room.
David tore loose wood aside.
For one second there was nothing.
Then two filthy hands shot upward.
Claire screamed.
David raised hammer defensively.
A weak voice came from below.
“David…”
His arm stopped.
The voice knew his name.
One hand slowly opened.
A silver locket lay in its palm.
David knew it immediately.
He turned toward family photograph hanging behind sofa.
His mother, Evelyn Carter, wore that exact locket in the picture.
She had died nineteen years ago.
David whispered:
“That belonged to my mother…”
The person beneath floor breathed heavily.
Then came five words.
“Your wife knows why.”
David looked at Claire.
Her face had changed completely.
“Claire?”
She backed toward hallway.
“I can explain.”
“Who is under my house?”
“I don't know.”
The hand disappeared.
David dropped beside opening.
“Hey!”
Nothing.
He shone phone flashlight into cavity.
No person.
Only a narrow tunnel disappearing toward back of house.
Then he noticed something scratched into wood beneath floor.
Three initials:
May you like
E.C.
His mother had carved them there.
