The closer he got, the heavier his steps felt. When he reached the fence, he paused and peered through a gap. The ball was near the back door, but it wasn’t just the ball that caught his attention. The knife, the bones wrapped in twigs, and the cauldron sitting in the far corner made the air feel thick with dread. His legs felt weak.
Standing so close to the shed with all the strange objects in view made his courage evaporate. But just as his feet began to turn back toward the safety of the street, a raspy and faint voice broke the silence. James froze, every muscle in his body locking up. The voice sounded like someone in pain, desperate for help.