Amy’s hands were shaking. She pressed a button to light up the screen. Four digits shone back at her: 10:57.

Chloe saw them. “Yep, I was right. We have to leave. Now.”

Amy felt a shiver come over her. She couldn’t take much more of this. Her patience had run out and her sanity, or what was left of it, was wearing very, very thin.

“Forget it. I’m not going anywhere.”

“But you have to, Amy. If you don’t, you won’t be able to—”

“No, I’m not moving. Not until I find out what the hell is going on.”

“I promise you will, soon, but first I need to get you out of this hotel. It’s not safe for you to stay here.”

“It’s not safe? It’s not safe? What’s happening in this damn town? First my dad disappears, then there’s some creepy man staring at me, and then my pendant shows up, and now this.” She buried her head in her hands and let out a muffled groan. “I know what’s happening. I’m losing it . . . I’m going crazy. I’m actually losing my mind.”

“Someone’s been watching you?” Chloe leaned in closer. “Someone’s been watching you . . . already ?”

Amy’s heart was thumping hard. “Yes! What does he want?”

Before Chloe could answer, there was a loud noise, one single heavy knock on the door.

Someone wanted to come in.

Amy jumped and ran over. “Oh, please, please let that be my dad!”

“No, Amy, stop!” Chloe leapt in the way, wedging her body between Amy and the door. “Let me check who it is first.” She turned around, opened the door a sliver of a crack, and peeked out into the hall. Her face paled as she slammed it shut.

“Chloe, who is it? Who’s out there?”

Chloe shook her head. “Doesn’t matter. We can’t go that way anymore. We need a new plan.”

Amy stared at the door, inching closer. “Chloe, tell me who’s out there.”

There was another knock.

“Don’t look, Amy. I mean it.”

“Why not?”

“Because they’ll only frighten you.”

“They ?”

Then another knock.

Amy put her eye to the peephole. What she saw nearly made her scream. On the other side of the wall was a crowd of people, though they really didn’t look like people at all—more like a horde of barren statues. There were so many of them. They filled the hall and were all facing the door, motionless, staring with that same cold glaze in their eyes as the man from the bar, that same lifeless expression.

Amy leapt backward, nearly tripping over her own feet as she stumbled away. She wanted to throw up or run or scream, but she was too scared to do any of those things, too scared to make a sound.

“Amy, don’t freak out.”

Another knock.