Jake jolted awake on the couch, breath sharp.
"Ahh… same dream?"
He sat up, rubbing his face, trying to shake it off—when he noticed movement at the stairs.
Sarah stood there, halfway up, silent. Watching him.
Their eyes locked. A beat of stillness passed.
"Oh—Sarah," he said, quickly sitting upright.
She didn't respond. Just held his gaze for a second… then turned and walked up the rest of the stairs without a word.
Jake let out a slow breath, sinking back into the couch.
"What the hell do you even do in a situation like this?"
"What's that smell…?" Jake muttered, nose wrinkling. Then it hit him.
"Oh no—I left Jimmy alone."
He shot up from the couch and headed upstairs.
Sarah's door was already closed. He paused briefly, then moved on.
He opened his own door slowly. Jimmy lay curled in his sleeping bag, eyes closed, breathing deep.
Jake narrowed his eyes slightly… but said nothing.
He sighed, walked past, and dropped onto the bed.
His thoughts spun, heavy with guilt and confusion.
Behind him, Jimmy's eyes blinked open—just a sliver.
Watching. Listening.
Waiting.
The clock read 3:00 a.m. when Jimmy finally heard Jake's breathing shift—slow, steady. Asleep.
Jimmy sat up quietly, eyes alert.
"Finally," he whispered. "Took him long enough."
He slipped out of the sleeping bag in one smooth motion, a silver crucifix already around his neck—another clenched tight in his hand.
He stood slowly, the floorboards barely creaking under his feet.
"It's go time."
Jimmy crept down the hallway and stopped just outside her door.
He didn't knock. Didn't call out.
Instead, he spoke just loud enough—like he knew she was listening.
"No one's gonna believe me," he muttered. "Not even Jake. But I know what you are, Sarah."
He paused, waiting.
Inside, Sarah froze.
He could feel her behind the door—still, tense, listening.
A slow smile crept across his face.
"If you're innocent," he said, louder now, "you won't mind a little holy silver."
The word silver sliced through the air.
Sarah's heart kicked up.
"There's no way in hell he's not bluffing."
She opened the door.
Her eyes locked onto the crucifix hanging around his neck—real. Burning. Consecrated.
Shit… that's legit. I took him too lightly.
Jimmy held her gaze, crucifix raised, daring her to move.
"C'mon," Jimmy said, holding the crucifix out between them.
"Touch it. Prove you're human."
Sarah's jaw clenched, but her voice stayed cool.
"Don't you have somewhere else to play exorcist? You're lucky I let you crash here—and now you're harassing me in the middle of the damn night?"
But inside—panic.
Shit. Shit. What do I do? The moment that thing touches me… even the slightest—
Jimmy tilted his head, watching her like a hawk.
Sarah didn't flinch—but her eyes flicked, just once, to the crucifix.
He noticed.
His grin widened.
"Something wrong?" he said, stepping half a foot closer.
"Don't you dare take another step," Sarah ordered, voice low but firm.
Jimmy scoffed.
"Or what? You gonna eat me?"
He held the crucifix higher. "I'm not gonna sit back and let you—or anything—hurt Jake or his dad."
He stepped closer.
Sarah backed up instinctively, eyes narrowing.
"What the hell are you talking about?"
Jimmy didn't miss it—that flicker of fear. The shift in her stance.
She wasn't as tough as before. Not tonight.
"Touch the silver, Sarah," he said.
"If that's even your real name."
Her pulse pounded in her ears.
I can't believe this lowly human is putting me in a corner.
She took a step closer, masking the panic with a cold glare.
"If I touch your little toy, will you leave my house and never show your face here again?"
Jimmy smirked, too eager.
"Deal."
They stood inches apart now.
The silver cross glinted in the hallway light between them.
And Sarah... reached.
Back in Jake's room — 3:44 AM
Jake tossed on the bed, sweat on his brow.
The dream again.
That dream.
The red sky.
The wind howling like wolves screaming.
The cliff, endless and cold.
And the floating, disembodied wolf head… massive, looming, watching.
"Wake up, Jake..."
The voice echoed—familiar yet not.
Jake dropped to his knees in the dream, hands over his ears.
"WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME?!" he cried.
"Leave me alone!"
But the voice didn't stop.
"She's not safe... Only you can save her."
He looked up—and for the first time, the wolf's mouth moved.
"Wake up..."
Jake jolted awake, gasping. His heart pounded against his ribs like a drum.
From the hallway… a thump.
Jake's eyes widened.
He looked at Jimmy's sleeping bag on the floor, empty.
"…No way," he muttered, climbing out of bed.
He reached for the doorknob, unsure if he was still dreaming.
In the hallway—
Sarah's hand hovered inches from the silver cross. Her face looked calm—but only on the surface.
Jimmy didn't blink. Didn't waver.
Then—
Click.
Jake's door opened behind them.
"Jimmy?" Jake's voice cut in, groggy but sharp. "What the hell are you doing?"
Jimmy flinched.
Sarah's eyes darted to Jake—a split-second distraction—and she used it.