Mandy Medline pulled the covers over her head and tried to sleep.

She was ten years old and hated darkness. The only reason that she was able to sleep in her own room was because of her nightlight. A small creak outside her window startled her. She turned to look and saw a branch lightly scraping the glass.


Mandy pulled the covers further over her head and heard another voice. A faint whistle. It was coming from her closet. It seemed to be calling her name.
“Mandy…” It said.

Mandy held her breath now. She was terrified.
“Mandy…” The voice said again.

Mandy slipped from her bed and grabbed her doll. She walked over to the closet and slowly opened the door.

An old man whom she had never seen nor met before emerged from a pile of teddy bears. He was wearing a clown mask.
“Hello Mandy…” The man said, and he put his hand over her mouth.

The old man tied Mandy up, slung her over his shoulder, and slipped out the window, past the once rustling branch.