The lights came on, and when Kate looked down, she saw that all of the wrapped packages were now on the table. But the cake knife . . . The knife was gone. She was about to cry out when she saw Simon holding it, poised to cut the cake, and breathed a sigh of relief.

“Here, sweetheart,” he said, placing Annabelle’s hand over his. “Let’s cut the cake together. The first piece is for you, because you’re the birthday girl.”

Kate smiled at her daughter. “After everyone’s had their cake, you get to open your presents.”

“Goodie,” Annabelle said, as the cake was passed around. She took two bites of her own and put her fork down, looking up at Kate. “That’s enough, Mommy. I’m finished. Can I open my presents now?”

Kate laughed. “Of course.” She slid the packages closer to Annabelle, who chose first a square box wrapped in blue paper and a huge yellow bow. She struggled to remove the bow until Kate came to her rescue, and in a few seconds, Annabelle had torn off the paper, opening the box to reveal a SparkleWorks Design & Drill. It was one of the gifts Kate had bought.

“Ooh, just what I wanted,” Annabelle said.

As Annabelle reached the middle of the pile, she picked up a small rectangular box wrapped in plain white paper decorated with red glitter. “Look, Mommy. It’s so pretty.”

Annabelle unwrapped the box and lifted the top. Kate leaned over the child, tilting her head to get a better look. “Let me see that,” she said, taking the box from Annabelle and looking at it more carefully. “Who gave you this? Where’s the card?” Kate’s voice trembled.

“What is it?” Simon rose from his chair.

“Mommy, I want my present!” Annabelle reached out and tried to take it from Kate.

Kate looked around the room, panicked, and then back at the box she held. Inside was a small wooden coffin, hexagonal and tapered at one end in Wild West style. She inhaled sharply and moved away from the table as she lifted it out of the box.

“What is it?” Simon asked again.

Kate stood in front of the sideboard, away from the others, and opened the tiny coffin. As she pushed the top open, movement caught her eye. A feeling of dread washed over her. Suddenly the room began to spin, her stomach heaving. The box was teeming with white slithering blobs. They were moving, wiggling, climbing up the sides of the coffin. Maggots! Squirming, slimy maggots. The hammering in her ears was deafening. A guttural cry came from her as she flung the box to the floor, but now the swarming mass was spread out beneath her, several of them on her right foot and moving.