The living room was open and bare. Exposed wires trailed from sockets. Dust and debris littered the floor, and the sweet scent of freshly sawed lumber hung over everything. The cool air brushed over my body, bringing a shiver. My eyes scanned the room, seeing nothing, the bat resting against my shoulder. An open doorway at the back of the room led to the kitchen. I started that way, my shoes scraping over the dirty floor. The kitchen looked as unfinished as the living room. More so. The spaces for appliances were empty, the cabinets not installed. A balled-up paper bag sat in one corner of the room next to an empty Coke bottle, two cigarette butts, and a dead cricket with its legs pointed at the ceiling.

I risked making noise.

“Blake?”

I listened, straining my ears. It was so quiet. No traffic sounds. No people. Only the random chirps of a bird or two. Had Blake led me there for . . . what? Nothing? A wild-goose chase? An elaborate, strange joke?

“Blake?” I said, louder. My voice echoed through the empty space.

I took a step toward the back door, planning on stepping out and seeing if he waited there. But then I heard my name. Faint and muffled.

I listened again, turning my head toward a closed door that led off the kitchen.

I barely heard what came next. “Down here.”

I made out what he said. I went to the door and turned that knob, finding myself at the top of a staircase that led down to the basement. The steps were wood, unfinished. And the light from below was faint and weak. I’d assumed there was no electricity in the house, but something provided a measure of illumination in the basement. And I couldn’t hear a generator or another power source.

I took a deep breath, gripped the bat tighter, and started down the stairs. They creaked beneath my weight.

I took them slowly, cautiously placing one foot in front of the other. About halfway down, I paused.

“Blake? Do you mind telling me what’s going on? Why are you out here?”

“Just come on,” he said, his voice strained. “It’s the only way.”

“For what?”

Someone coughed. Or grunted? And I wasn’t sure if it was Blake or not. I didn’t bother asking if he was alone. I knew it was too late for those questions.

So I went on, taking the remaining steps at an even slower pace. When I reached the bottom, I turned to the left, taking in the rest of the basement. I was ready to swing the bat if need be.