Pāhonoa te oro

I tried to laugh it off… until its tiny painted lips parted. ‘Play with me,’ it breathed… in my dead brother’s voice. I backed up fast. The rocking chair lurched forward… rocking harder… with no one near it. Then every broken toy in the room joined in… whispering my name… again and again. I bolted …

I tried to laugh it off… until its tiny painted lips parted. ‘Play with me,’ it breathed… in my dead brother’s voice. I backed up fast. The rocking chair lurched forward… rocking harder… with no one near it. Then every broken toy in the room joined in… whispering my name… again and again. I bolted for the stairs… but the door slammed in my face. In the pitch black… icy little hands clamped around my ankle.