10
‘Inside? That thing?’
Stella nodded and cautiously moved closer to the carriage. Not wanting to be left behind, Toby pulled Violet near and followed. Stepping onto the small set of wooden steps, she paused.
‘Stay behind me,’ she said.
Toby nodded. He had no intention of charging ahead.
Pulling a long key out of her belt, she slid it into the door’s lock. Something stirred within and the whole cart rocked. Stella waited for the commotion to stop. Twisting the key, she gingerly turned the handle.
‘One. Two… Three.’
She flung open the door, and her lantern was snuffed out. They were swallowed by darkness. A shape scurried towards the open door. It looked human, but the angles were all wrong, as if its joints were dislocated. It looked at Stella, who was closest, pounced… and she van
