Light. Noise. Don’t stay quiet.

She slapped on every hallway light switch, flooding the dark entryway with brightness. Then, with all her strength, she pounded her fists against the nearest apartment door.

“Help! Please help me!” Her small voice cracked with panic, but it echoed down the stairwell.

The Door Opens

The man in black froze, startled by the child’s sudden courage. He hadn’t planned on this.

At that moment, the door swung open. A broad-shouldered man in sweatpants stood in the doorway, his wife just behind him.

“What’s going on here?” the man demanded, his voice firm as his eyes shifted from the trembling girl to the stranger.