"Her mind raced as the sheet fell silent, looming tall. Who knew her husband was gone for three weeks on business, who would know how to get in? No one, she thought, no one at all.

She turned to face the intruder, who slowly cocked its head as she stepped backwards for her son. Max’s little fingers gripped the corner until he could reach for his mom’s shirt pocket. As soon as he made contact, the sheet began hurtling towards them.

No door in the house had a working lock except for the front door and the master bedroom, and as the sheet chased her up the stairs and across the landing, it seemed to know that fact as well. It didn’t wait for her to pick a path, it just glided along after her, as if on a track. With one long linen hand outstretched, it nearly beat her to the knob - but she and Max made it through and clicked it shut on the other side.

Max cried as the doorknob rattled and quaked. Thinking as fast as she could, she pried open the window to the roof. From here they could climb down the latticework and make it to the car."