In a blink of an eye, my world forever changes as I watch Jake pull a knife out of his pocket and slash it across Nana’s throat. I go to scream, tell myself to move, run, but frozen in horror I try to tuck myself away further into the corner of my bed.

Jake’s eyes find mine in the darkness. He drops Nana to the floor with a complete disregard for life. Stepping over her as if she is nothing. A moment later I realize John and Michaels’s cries have reduced themselves to whimpers as he slowly, maliciously, starts to make his way across the room towards me. Closing my eyes, I focus on the only words that come to mind.

Think happy thoughts.

Think happy thoughts.

“Wendy,” Jake whispers low and dangerously close. “Be a good girl and scoot to the edge of the bed.”

I don’t hear John and Michael’s cries. I don’t hear the rattling, the tinkling of bells in the distance. Not like I did before. All I can focus on is the loud beating of my heart as I feel Jake’s weight on the bed a moment later.

“If you don’t listen to what I tell you,” he warns in an intimidating tone, “I will be forced to make you. Like I said, Wendy, I will be respected in what is now my house.”

Reluctantly, fearing a fate worse than the one I know is coming, I feel myself inch towards him.

“That’s right,” he whispers, and I flinch when I feel him touch my thigh. Still not able to open my eyes, I can tell he’s displeased as he grabs a hold of me tightly, his hand grazing up towards my belly. “Respect your new master, Wendy. Do as I say.”

When I still don’t, he yanks me towards him, and I quickly prepare for the blow, the force of my body inevitably slamming into his.

But it never comes.

Weightless, I suddenly feel my body floating through the air a moment later. Slender arms wrap around my waist tightly. The touch is tender. Loving. Magical. The bells sound again in the distance, growing louder as I feel myself gently float back down to the floor, far away from where I was just sitting.

I open my eyes wide as Jake curses, his harsh, strangled voice cuts through the room and I hear the sound of furniture breaking, shattering around us. My stare lands on a shadow, quick, nimble, faster than humanly possible as it nips back and forth, attacking Jake, confusing him, and making him stumble about.

John and Michael’s cries grow louder again, and I instantly hear the boy at my side speak. “Quick, Tink! The other room! Make them see they’re not alone. They’ll never be lost. They’ve got you and me now.”