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John said, "Holy shit What are you doing here?"

I said, "John, back up…"

The little girl looked at me and said, "Don’t be scared"

"Anna?"

She nodded

John said, "You know her?"

"Don’t lower the gun, John"

"Do you want to hold it? I’un at a toddler"

Anna said, "Why are there so un?"

I said, "What do you want?"

"I can take you to see Amy"

"Is she here?"

Anna nodded, silently

John and I exchanged a look

Quietly, he said, "Okay, I admit she’s pretty creepy"

I whispered, "Man, if this was a horror et the fuck out of here"

"Well, they’d be thinking it They wouldn’t scream it unless they were bla--"

"She’s downstairs," interrupted Anna "Your dog is here, too Get in"

John said, "Uh, no If we go doe take the stairs"

Anna shook her head "There are no lights in the stairs We should stay away from the dark"

I sed and said, "Because of the shadow man"

She nodded John whispered, "Jesus Christ"

To John, I said, "I’onna leave it up to you"

He clearly had no idea This was so obviously a trap And we so obviously had nowhere else to go

John asked Anna, "Where is she? What floor?"

"The second base a lookout"

"Okay, and is Mr Bear a--"

"It’s a stuffed bear," I said, answering for her

"Right" John said to me, "We do it this way You wait here For twofor us, I’ll find out how it likes buckshot Then you head down on the elevator and I’ll meet you there Then if she, uh, attacks you, you only have to last for two floors Against a toddler"

Anna said, "I think we should all ride together"

John was already heading to the stairs I took a breath, steeled myself, and stepped into the elevator with Anna I hovered er over the "B2" button, and counted to a hundred I braced un blasts, or screa

I hit the button

The door closed

Anna stood toforward the way people do on elevators The elevator ru down, and down A tiny, soft, warm hand curled around mine I looked down at Anna and she sht went off

The little fingers squeezed around mine I slapped at the door and yelled, "JOHN! HEY!"