Tyler did another lap around the basement to check his exit options. Along the eastern wall of the living room was the carpeted staircase to the house’s foyer on the first floor, beside the base of the staircase was the door to the bedroom, and through the north door of the living room was an unfinished area that comprised a weight room and workshop, which led to the back hallway. Past the washing machine and dryer in this hallway was a separate entrance, the door of which opened onto an outdoor concrete staircase leading up to the backyard. The back hallway also accessed the kitchen, which then led back to the bedroom, so the whole basement comprised a loop, with the staircase to the first floor at its center. The windows, from outside, were just below ground level; only the bedroom windows were easily opened. Tyler ensured that both exits from the basement were locked from the inside, pissed in the bathroom—evidence of David spattered everywhere—took a soda from the fridge, and returned to the couch. He opened up David’s laptop again. All was quiet—David’s friends were still asleep. He realized there was no cord down here to recharge the laptop. He turned off the computer to conserve power and stretched himself out on the couch. Like David, he didn’t think of using the bed in the other room.

Tyler did not go to school the next morning, just as he’d promised; in fact, he did not leave David’s basement for the next eighteen days. Across town, east of Tyler’s given neighborhood, Beth’s older brother Greg awoke and bloodied his hands for the coming day.

Around noon that day, in response to Tyler’s text from the previous night, Rhea replied with a single word: “Godspeed.”