The door buzzed, and Catherine pushed it open, rushing into the dim hall. The carpet was threadbare and stained, and the dim entry smelled like damp and mold. A door at the bottom of the stairs creaked open, and a wrinkled face poked out.
"You're not the police," the old woman said.
"No, I'm not," Catherine replied. "I'm Sophia's friend. But I called the police ages ago. Why aren't they here yet?"
The old woman frowned, "I'm afraid they've been here too many times before. That man up there is a monster. I try to call them whenever I hear Linda screaming, but they never do much."
Catherine cursed and started taking the stairs two at a time.
"Where are you going, girly?" the old woman shouted. "That man is a monster. Stay away from him!"
Catherine ignored the warning and continued up the stairs. Footsteps pounded up behind her, and she stopped in fear.
"Mrs. Blair, wait," Geoffrey's voice shouted.
