The child beside Jude stepped backwards.
Jude moved in front of him.
"No."
The voice seemed to consider the answer.
Then it spoke again.
"Give me the one who left."
Jude felt the child's fingers tighten around his sleeve.
"No," Jude repeated.
The enormous hand moved closer.
"Then give me the one who remembers."
A sudden flash of silver light filled the room.
The window slammed shut.
The child fell backwards.
Jude caught him.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then the child looked up.
"You shouldn't have answered."
"Would you rather I gave you to it?"
The child lowered his eyes.
"No."
"Then stop telling me what I shouldn't do."
The child almost smiled.
But the expression disappeared quickly.
A knock sounded from the door.
Jude turned.
The door had not been there before.
It was a simple wooden door, with no handle and no markings.
Three knocks came from the other side.
Then a familiar voice spoke.
"Jude?"
Susan.
Jude rushed towards it.
