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next door. It was smaller than her uncle’s house, and it looked like it might just collapse under the next big gust of wind. The shingles were black and torn like the scales of a sick dragon. The house was supposed to be white, but the boards were dirty and broken. The porch in front sagged, and the two windows on the side facing her were crusted with dirt. The gloomy afternoon made it hard to tell exactly how dismal the house was, but viewed through the rain, the place made her uncle’s house look like a Malibu palace.
    Movement caught her eye, and Lindsay looked into the backyard. The first thing she noticed was the umbrella—a large black mushroom, opened up to keep its owner dry. She could not see who stood beneath the umbrella, but he wore a slick black parka just like the ones the men from the grocery store wore. The umbrella guy stood beneath a scraggly tree with pointy limbs. He didn’t move, just faced the back of the house like a black statue.
    Uneasy again, Lindsay stepped away from the window seat. What if the freaky umbrella guys had followed her? What if they lived next door ? The place had all the charm of a zombie hostel, so it wouldn’t be hard to believe.
    She finished unpacking her things and returned to the window seat. Cautiously, she looked at the house next door. The umbrella guy was gone, and she found that even creepier than seeing him standing under the skeletal tree. He could be anywhere. He could be looking at her right now.
    Lindsay backed away from the window. At the chest of drawers she lifted her cell phone, which was still connected to the charging cord, and dialed Kate’s number with a trembling finger.
    â€œGet me out of here,” she said when Kate picked up.
    â€œThat bad, huh?”
    â€œWorse.”
    Kate giggled. In the background, the TV blared some sitcom, and her friend’s laughter blended with the show’s laugh track.
    â€œThere’s this house next door,” Lindsay said, “and Buffy wouldn’t go into it. And there are these weird guys with umbrellas all over town.”
    â€œIs it raining?”
    â€œYeah, it’s raining, but these are huge black umbrellas and all of the guys have these shiny black parkas on. It’s like they’re part of a cult or something.”
    â€œMaybe they don’t want to get wet.”
    â€œYou’d understand if you saw them. They’re from some serial killer outlet store. One of them was just outside, and he was totally scoping me.”
    That was a lie, but she had to say something so Kate would understand just how bizarre these guys were.
    â€œNo way,” Kate said.
    â€œSo true. He was in back of the place next door, just staring. Totally not moving or anything. Just staring.”
    â€œIs he still there?”
    â€œNo. He bailed.”
    â€œWeird.”
    â€œI know. It’s just awful here.”
    â€œIt sounds like it,” Kate said. “Maybe it’ll be better if you get some sun.”
    â€œI hope so. Right now it’s just so gray.”
    â€œHave you forgiven your parents yet?”
    â€œNot even. They must be punished. I can NOTbelieve they picked this week to drag me out of town.”
    â€œWell, you totally helped with the party. I so owe you, big.”
    â€œIt’s okay. I just wish I could be there. It’s going to be way fun.”
    â€œI’m so nervous.”
    â€œYou’ll do fine. Just make sure you have the number of the taxi company if anyone gets too wasted, and do not let Justin and Farge in.”
    â€œOh my god,” Kate said with a cackling laugh. “I’d have to fumigate the place if those burners got in.”
    â€œExactly,” Lindsay said. “Just remember, they are guests in your house, but it is your house. Don’t put up with any dis’.”
    â€œI won’t, Linds. Thanks so much. I totally have to go like now. I’ll call you tomorrow, okay?”
    â€œSee