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Joshua stepped into his room and flicked on the light, illuminating the walls with a fluorescent glare. It was his first night staying alone in the house; his parents had gone out to a dinner party with some friends and would not be back until much later. He grabbed a pair of pajamas out of his dresser and pulled them on quickly. He had a bit of trouble pulling his shirt over his head; he would have to ask his mother to go out and buy him some new pajamas soon.

Joshua brushed his teeth and washed his face in the adjoining bathroom. He put the cap back on his toothpaste and closed the door to the bathroom. Then, after everything had been sorted, he began his nightly check around the room.

He checked under the bed, and in his dresser. He dug through his toybox, taking care to put the toys back lest his father come home and see a mess in his room. Finally, he peeked in the closet and, after assuring his safety, threw the door wide open to prove that there was nothing there.

Satisfied, he closed and locked the door to his room, turned off the light, and made his way into his safe, warm bed. He stared up at the ceiling for a few seconds, and then turned over and closed his eyelids, drifting almost immediately off to sleep.

Out of the shadows, a clawed black hand reached out and turned the lock on the window.