Chapter 1 — The Door at Midnight
At 11:46 p.m., Nora Bennett heard three quiet knocks on her apartment door.
She was halfway through answering emails when she froze.
Three knocks.
A pause.
Then one more.
Nora stood.
"Mia?"
Her twelve-year-old daughter had gone to bed hours earlier.
She opened the door.
Mia stood outside in the hallway wearing her school uniform.
Her face was pale.
One sleeve was torn.
There was a dark bruise beneath her left eye.
Nora's heart stopped.
"Oh my God."
Mia looked at her mother.
"Mom..."
Then she collapsed into her arms.
Nora caught her.
"What happened?"
Mia shook her head.
"I fell."
Nora looked at the torn sleeve.
"Where?"
"At school."
"Who was with you?"
Silence.
Nora pulled back.
"Mia. Look at me."
Her daughter finally raised her eyes.
"I don't want you to go there."
"Go where?"
"The school."
Nora's stomach tightened.
"Why?"
Mia whispered one sentence.