I froze as I noticed that Ron was…

Standing in the middle of the living room, staring at me. But it wasn’t really Ron. It was a mannequin—one I had never seen before, dressed in a man’s suit. The face was eerily smooth, blank except for two black, glassy eyes that seemed to follow me.

I shuddered and forced myself to move.

“Ben!” I called out, my voice shaking.

Nothing.

I turned toward the hallway when I heard a soft creak from upstairs. My heart pounded as I sprinted up, taking two steps at a time. The door to Ben’s room was slightly open. I pushed it wide and gasped.

The room was empty—except for Ben’s stuffed bear sitting in the middle of the floor. And the closet door was ajar.

“Ben?” I whispered, stepping toward it.

Another creak came from the hallway. I spun around, and there she was.

Ruby.

Her long, blonde hair hung over her face, and her eyes were wide, but not in surprise—more like excitement. Something was wrong. She was clutching something behind her back.

“Ruby… where’s Ben?” I demanded, stepping closer.

She smiled, a slow, eerie smile. “He’s safe. I promise.”

I didn’t believe her. My hands clenched into fists. “Where is he?”

She tilted her head, her smile growing. “You should check the basement.”

My stomach dropped. The basement.

Without waiting, I shoved past her and ran down the stairs. The basement door was shut, but I yanked it open, fumbling for the light switch. The bulb flickered on weakly, casting a dim glow over the cement floor.

“Ben!” I called.

A rustling noise came from the corner.

I rushed forward—and there he was.

Curled in a ball, shaking. His little hands were tied with a scarf, his face pale with tears streaking down.

“Mommy!” he sobbed.

I fell to my knees, untying the scarf with frantic fingers, my hands trembling. “It’s okay, baby. I’m here.”

“She was whispering to the walls,” he choked out between sobs. “She said the mannequin was watching me.”

I froze. Mannequin. The one in the living room.

Ben clung to me, his tiny body trembling. I picked him up and turned, ready to get out—

But the basement door slammed shut.

Footsteps echoed on the stairs.

Ruby.

Her silhouette loomed at the top, blocking the exit.

“You weren’t supposed to come home yet,” she whispered. “Not before I finished.”

Finished what?

I gripped Ben tighter and backed away, scanning for anything—anything—to defend myself. A rusted wrench lay on the shelf beside me. I grabbed it, holding it out. “Let us go, Ruby. Right now.”

She giggled. “He liked my stories, you know. He listened so well. But I needed him to see. To understand.”

“Understand what?” My voice wavered, but I kept my grip tight on the wrench.

“Them,” she whispered. “The Watchers.”

My blood ran cold.

Behind me, Ben let out a whimper. “The mannequin, Mommy… it moved.”

No.

A deep creaking sound came from upstairs. The hairs on my neck stood on end.

Ruby’s grin widened. “They’re here.”

I wasn’t waiting to find out who—or what—she meant.

I lunged. The wrench connected with her arm, and she shrieked, stumbling backward. I grabbed the doorknob and twisted, shoving it open. Ben clung to me as I sprinted out of the basement and through the house, my only thought to escape.

I was almost at the front door when I risked a glance back.

Ruby stood at the top of the basement stairs, watching us. Behind her, the mannequin stood too.

Only this time… its head was tilted. Slightly. Watching me.

I didn’t stop. I flung the front door open and ran into the daylight, Ben sobbing into my shoulder. My neighbor, Mrs. Carter, was outside and gasped at the sight of us.

“Call the police!” I shouted.

She fumbled for her phone, and I turned back to the house, expecting to see Ruby there.

But she was gone.

And so was the mannequin.