Fatal Silence

The urgent footsteps grew closer, each one a hammer blow to Clara's frayed nerves. She had just managed to pry a small gap in the window frame, but the sound sent a chill through her before any cold night air could slip in.

"Hazel, don't make a sound!" Clara's face went pale. With all her strength, she pushed the loosened frame back into place.

She grabbed Hazel, who was trembling uncontrollably,