It was a stench so strong, it made your eyes smart. Callie pressed the sleeve of her jumper against her nose and turned to me wide-eyed. “What the heck is that?”
“I don’t know!” I hissed back, pinching my nostrils closed with a thumb and finger. We stumbled back up the stairs and into the kitchen. I kicked the door shut as we both gasped for stench-free air.

Once she’d caught her breath, Callie raced towards the living room. I followed. “Don’t go!” I begged. Callie was already shoving her things into her beaten-up backpack. She gave me a look that said You’re crazy, tossed her backpack over one shoulder and marched towards the front of the house.

I beat her to the front door and threw myself across it, arms stretched wide. “Callie!”
“Cooper! I’m freaked out! Your house is literally freaking me out!” She was trying to prise me away from the door, so I gripped her by the elbows. “I know! Something weird is going on here. That’s why I need you to stay.” She stopped fighting me, and we stared at each other.