Jonathan
What’s wrong, babe?
My wife frowns at me over FaceTime.
She’s surrounded by half-unpacked boxes…
And she looks so worried and exhausted.
Callie
I just wish you were here.
Callie
The new house creeps me out.
Jonathan
I’ll be back from the conference in a few days.
Jonathan
You know I’d rather be there with you and Grace.
Jonathan
Is she sleeping?
Callie
I’m watching her on the Sleepycam right now.
Its screen shows the live feed from our daughter’s video baby monitor.
I can see Grace snoozing in her crib.
Jonathan
You should get some sleep, too.
Callie
I’m going to sit up and watch Grace a little longer.
Callie
It’s really hard to sleep when you’re not here.
Callie
Sometimes I hear things.
Callie
Especially at night.
Jonathan
It’s just the new place settling.
Jonathan
You’ll get used to it soon.
An hour later, just as I’m about to fall asleep…
Callie FaceTimes me again.
Callie
Jonathan! I saw something!
Her eyes are wild, her tone hushed and frantic.
I’m instantly wide awake.
Callie
I was watching Grace and I guess I nodded off.
Callie
When I woke up and looked at the tablet again…
Callie
This…this THING was standing in Grace’s room!
Callie
I blinked and it was gone…
Callie
But I swear I saw it.
I sigh as the tension in my shoulders loosens.
Jonathan
Babe, you were dreaming.
Jonathan
You know you always have nightmares when you’re stressed.
Callie
I’m going to check on Grace.
Carrying her phone, she walks through our new house…
Turning on every light along the way.
She peeks into our daughter’s dark bedroom.
She looks at her phone and slowly shakes her head.
Jonathan
It was just a dream.
Jonathan
Get some rest and you’ll feel better in the morning.
Callie
There’s no way I’m sleeping tonight.
I groan when an incoming FaceTime call wakes me up.
It’s Callie again, of course.
She’s breathless with panic.
Callie
I saw it on the Sleepycam again!
Callie
It crept out of Grace’s closet!
Callie
I wasn’t dreaming!
Jonathan
Can you see it now?
Callie
No, it disappeared again.
Callie
God, the way it moved…
Callie
It SLITHERED, Jonathan.
Callie
It slithered up to her crib and smiled at her.
Callie
It had such sharp teeth.
Jonathan
It was just a nightmare.
Jonathan
Turn off the Sleepycam and go to sleep.
Callie
Can you come home early?
Her face crumples like she’s about to cry.
Jonathan
I have a really important presentation in the morning.
Callie
I just can’t be alone right now.
Callie
If I knew you were on your way…
Jonathan
Call a friend and ask them to come over.
Callie
No one’s answering.
Jonathan
You’ll be fine. Besides…
Jonathan
You’re not alone.
Callie
What if I can’t protect her from that thing?
I don’t mean to snap at my wife…
But she’s not the only one who’s exhausted and stressed.
Jonathan
That “thing” doesn’t exist, Callie.
Jonathan
You were dreaming.
Callie
Please stay up and talk to me for a while.
Callie
I’m so freaked out.
Jonathan
It’s four in the morning.
Jonathan
You need sleep and so do I.
Jonathan
Everything’s going to be fine.
Callie
Wait, Jonathan! I—
I hang up on her and turn off my phone.
I feel incredibly guilty…
But my presentation will bomb if I don’t get some rest.
I leave my phone off so I can focus on my presentation.
Afterward, I run back to my hotel room…
So I can call Callie in private.
I have to apologize for hanging up on her.
When I turn on my phone, I find a video message from her.
She sent it a little before dawn.
In it, her face is streaked with tears.
Callie
Why aren’t you answering?
She puts a hand over her mouth, stifling a sob.
Callie
I’m watching it on the Sleepycam right now.
Callie
It’s standing over Grace’s crib…
Callie
But it’s not looking down at her anymore.
Callie
It turned its head.
Callie
It’s staring into the Sleepycam.
Callie
It’s looking right at me…
She takes a long, shuddering breath.
Callie
Oh god, that smile.
Callie
I know I should call the police…
Callie
But there’s no way they’ll get here in time.
She squares her shoulders like she’s trying to be brave.
Callie
I’m going to Grace’s room now.
Callie
I need to try to protect our daughter.
Callie
I love you, Jonathan.
Callie
Even though you didn’t believe me…
There are no more messages from her.
No missed calls, no texts…
With shaking hands, I call her…
I call the police and ask them to check on her…
While I wait to hear from them, I have a thought.
Maybe I can access the Sleepycam remotely…
I download the Sleepycam app and sign in.
After a moment, the live feed from Grace’s room pops up.
The curtains are closed, leaving the room draped in shadow.
I maximize the brightness on my phone…
That’s when something under Grace’s crib catches my eye.
The feed is grainy, and still so dark—
But I think I see a shadowy…
Slither out from under the crib.
When it stands, stretching to its full height…
It’s as tall as a person.
But there’s no way it’s human.
Its mouth is impossibly wide—
A slash against an otherwise featureless face.
It grins like it can see me right through the Sleepycam.
I yell even though I know it can’t hear me.
Jonathan
Where’s my wife, you monster?
Jonathan
Where’s my daughter??
It smiles again and creeps into Grace’s closet.
I should call the cops back.
I need to warn them about what’s in the closet!
Something moves in the corner of my hotel room.
The closet door slowly swings open.
From the shadows inside, the slithering thing smiles again—
Wherever it took Grace and Callie…
I realize I’m about to join them.
