Chapter 1: What happens at 3
They say a child's laughter might just be one of the most beautiful sounds in the world.
... but not when it's three in the morning and you live alone.
A child's giggle echoed through the room, waking Mikel from his shallow sleep. Footsteps followed, loud and erratic, just outside his bedroom door.
"For crying out loud... not again," he grumbled, reaching for the small lamp on the bedside table.
Click... click...
Nothing.
Mikel clicked his tongue and sat up, yanking the string again with more irritation. When the light finally blinked on, a small white face leaned over the side of his face.
"Boo!"
"Hiss!" Startled, Mikel flinched and squeezed his eyes shut.
"Shit," he cursed under his breath through gritted teeth.
He let himself fall back onto the mattress, and the bed creaked under his weight. He exhaled slowly, eyes still shut.