For a moment my heart stopped, and I caught my breath, wondering if she could see him with me, if he was so visibly here now. But no, she’d just woken up from sleep confused. I was about Jeremiah’s age, that was all, and she had confused the two of us.

“No,” I said. “It’s me, Lee. Our stepdad is here. The killer. His car is here. We found it in the woods.”

“You kids have been sneaking out again?”

“Come on, Grandma,” I said. “That’s not the point. Horace found us, and we’re in danger. We have to go.”

Grandma snapped awake. “Horace?” she said. “He’s here?” Grandma threw back the covers and jumped out of bed. She grabbed a pair of jeans from her dresser and pulled them on. I peeked out her window, rain and hail pelting the glass like an army of souls begging to be let in. I’d never seen a storm like this one. Not even in my visions.

Murphy burst into the room. “You got a gun, Grandma? We might need it.”

“A gun?” she said. “Why yes, I suppose I do. There’s a shotgun in the kitchen. I keep it for coyotes and the like. It’s not loaded, mind you.”

“Where are the shells?” said Murphy. “And can you hurry it up?”

“I’m moving,” said Grandma. “Trying to find my house keys. You don’t have to bark at me, Murphy.”

“Bark at you? Are you fucking kidding me?” said Murphy. “I’m trying to save our lives. Horace is here. He’s been here awhile, since at least this afternoon. He’s a killer, and he could be fucking anywhere. We have to go, now.”

A bang sounded from upstairs, from the third floor, like something had tipped and fallen over. Footsteps creaked across the hardwood above us.

Someone was up there.

“Oh shit,” said Murphy. “He’s in the house. Horace is in the house. Grandma, hurry!”

I grabbed Grandma’s raincoat and flung it at her. Lightning flashed pale light over the room, and I was aware of every shadow, every lingering darkness. Horace was in the attic, and he was coming for us.

We ran out of the room and downstairs—Murphy, Grandma, and me.

“Grandma, get the shotgun,” said Murphy. “Where are the shells?”

“Kitchen cabinet.”

I went for them, and they were just where she’d said they were. I grabbed as many as I could and handed them over to Grandma. I only hoped Horace was still upstairs on the third floor. I hoped we could make it out of the house before he got to us.

“Head for the Trans Am,” said Murphy. “I’m driving.”