It begins on a crisp October evening, the sun completely hidden behind the stormy, gray clouds. The light pattering of rain on the stone path fights to be heard over the roar of the river nearby, and a breeze that sounds like a whisper rustles overhanging tree branches. A peaceful, but chaotic existence. That is until three children come rounding the corner, armed with bright coats and rainboots. Their sharp squeals and bright laughter are followed by their scolding mother, a usually bright-eyed, graying woman in her mid-40’s. 

“Watch where you run Agnice,” she warns, “you don’t want to trip and skin your knees like your sister do you?” Agnice only gives a slight nod before continuing to traipse toward the river with her siblings. Now, maybe it was her mother’s negligence or a sister who pushed her too hard. Though perhaps, it was only a deadly combination of the fast rapids and a child’s carelessness because one moment Agnice was collecting rocks on the shore and the next, when her mother looked over, she was caught in a current, struggling to keep above water. Her mother’s screams could probably be heard for miles. And poor little Agnice, those screams were the last thing she ever heard.

Three years later… 

“Sorry, I’m just in such a hurry,” said the mother, slipping on her heels while simultaneously trying to find her car keys. She finally picked up her bag, with her final goodbyes and one last “just call if you need anything”, and she was out the door five short minutes later, shutting the door firmly behind her. And with that the house was left with just two sleeping children and their new babysitter exploring downstairs. 

The sitter in question wasn't sure she wanted to be there. And her name wasn't sitter, it was Sarah Jane, and she preferred to be called that. Not Sarah, not Jane, not SJ, Sarah Jane. She could have been sitting on her bed watching Gilmore Girls or studying for AP Physics, but no she let her mother convince her to finally take a job babysitting two brats and start earning her own money. It's no matter, I only have to stay for the summer.

"What's ‘no matter’?" Sarah Jane spun around at the high pitched, childish voice, to find a young girl standing at the base of the staircase. She couldn't have been any older than twelve, but in her hands she was clutching a copy of Emily Bronte's Jane Eyre. Sarah Jane guessed she was Molly, the oldest sister.

"Oh, it's nothing, I was just thinking out loud." Sarah Jane finished with a nervous chuckle.

"Well, I think you should be careful about what you say in this house."

Sarah Jane blinked and offered a unsure smile, "Where's your sister?"

The girl didn't mention the change in subject, only pointed to the kitchen and slowly walked off to the living area, where Sarah Jane had been informed the TV was located. 

Sarah Jane figured that if she had time before the kids woke up, she might as well spend it looking for some food. She made her way through high-ceilinged hallways to the brightly lit kitchen, distantly admiring the white walls and freshly cleaned counters. The pantry was already open just a crack and Sarah Jane reached out one hand to the door. Until one finely manicured hand was gripping her wrist and pulling it back. 

“Sorry, dear,” The mother smiled sweetly, “I realized I forgot to lock the pantry.”

Sarah Jane looked on in shock at the mother's sudden appearance as the pantry was firmly closed and locked.

“You know how kids can be, wouldn’t want them sneaking food,” said the mother, slipping the key into her purse before calmly turning her back and leaving the way she came. Sarah Jane peeked out into the hallway. Nothing. She tried for the door again, then once more, but it didn’t budge. She considered it odd that the mother would bar her from using the pantry as well, but she decided not to question it.

Two weeks later…

“How does Mary Poppins fit that many things in her bag?” 

“Hmm?” Sarah Jane responded, her eyes trained on her phone screen. The girl next to her gave a huff, at the half-hearted acknowledgement. 

“I said, how does Mary Poppins fit that many things in her bag?”

Sarah Jane sighed, “I don’t know Jessica. It’s just a movie.”

“But, it’s a lamp—” Unfortunately for Jessica, her argument was interrupted by a loud buzzing coming from Sarah Jane’s hands.

“Sorry girls, I have to take this.” She received only a pout from Jessica and an eye roll from her older sister, Molly, before stepping out from the family room. 

“Thank God you called, I was going to explode if I had to keep watching Mary Poppins for the 7th time.” Sarah Jane began, after quietly shutting the door. 

“Yeah, well you're the one who chose to look after those brats.” Came the reply. 

“Whatever. What were you calling about Kelsey?”

Kelsey screeched in a way that suggested to her friend that she’d probably be talking for a while. “Oh yeah! I was just talking with my mom who talked to her boss, who talked to her sister, who talked to her cleaning lady, who talked to…” Can you just get on with it, thought Sarah Jane.

“...Who knows the family you work for!”

“And?”

“And the mom had a third kid who, get this, drowned.” 

“What, seriously?” 

“Yeah, like a couple years ago, isn’t that so sad?”

“That’s so weird that I haven’t heard anything about it.” How did no one tell me this?

“I know, but, like, maybe it just depresses them the heck out,” Kelsey continued. “I mean if it was me, I don’t know what I’d do…” And the girls never talk about it either.

“...And, like, no one even found the body either, and I just think that’s so freaking creepy—”

“Okay, thanks for telling me Kelsey, but I think I’m going to go now.” The Sitter felt all of a sudden anxious to be off the phone.

“Okay! But be careful, I bet the house is haunted or something.” 

Sarah Jane walked back into the family room, but with a feeling of nausea that hadn’t been there when she’d left. The two girls were just as she’d left them, Jessica intently watching the screen, spouting questions every two seconds, and Molly trying her best to bury herself in whatever book she’d picked up recently. It was almost too easy to imagine that the space between them had been left there for a third sister. In fact, if Sarah Jane looked close enough she could’ve sworn she could see the youngest sister, smiling back at her. Or maybe you just need more sleep.

Maybe you just need more sleep, said Agnice, her smiling face staring from the doorway.

“Hello?! I said, ‘is there anymore ketchup?'” Molly asked, an annoyed strain to her voice.

“Huh?” Sarah Jane shook her head, trying to focus on what was going on in front of her.

“Okay, seriously? What is up with you? I just wanted some ketchup.” 

Sarah Jane narrowed her eyes, saying, “It’s in the fridge, and you should probably watch your attitude.” As usual, she only received another eye roll in response. Sarah Jane focused her attention on Jessica. She was silently eating her peas at the kitchen counter, in protest after Sarah Jane told them they couldn’t have pizza for dinner.

“Hey, Jess?” Jessica raised her head, still refusing to speak. 

“Do you mind if I ask you about your sister? Agnice?” Jessica shot up, a startled look on her face.

“Why did you say that? She’ll hear you!”

Sarah Jane shook her head in confusion, “Who’ll hear me? Your mother? Jessica, she’s at work right now.”

“No, not mom—” A hand clamped over her mouth before she could finish her sentence.

“She doesn’t know what she’s talking about,” said Molly, “she’s been having some bad dreams lately and probably thinks they’re real or something.” She let out a yelp when Jessica bit down on her hand.

“That is not true, I don’t get nightmares anymore.” Jessica pouted. 

“You´re eight, of course you still—” 

“You know what, I think it’s time for bed.” It took all of Sarah Jane’s convincing efforts to get them up the stairs, and by the time both sisters were in bed, it must have been 10 o’clock. 

Sarah Jane was just shutting Jessica’s door behind her when she heard a soft voice call out, “Just don’t let her hear you say her name again.”

After a long day of corralling the two girls, Sarah Jane was finally making her way down the entry hall towards the front doors, about to pass the kitchen when she heard a faint whisper. What the voice was saying, Sarah Jane couldn’t tell you. 

“I seriously need to get more sleep.” Sarah Jane whispered to herself. She walked slowly into the kitchen to find that the pantry was… shaking? Only slightly but enough that even in the dimly lit kitchen, Sarah Jane’s attention was drawn to it. She reached a shaking hand toward the knob and started to turn it. Someone had unlocked it. Don’t do it, don’t do it. She pulled the door fully open, to find only a dark emptiness. Wait, is that… someone’s face? A pair of eyes flashed open. 

“Oh my God!” Sarah Jane spun around to find the mother standing in the entryway, a shaking hand held to her horrified face. 

She turned her eyes to Sarah Jane, “What did you do?”