The Patchwork House by Richard Salter Page A

though.”
    “I think our friend is playing with the electronics,” Beth said.
    “And that’s not the only thing,” I said. Have you seen how much battery is left? With the extended battery this should have been good at least until dawn.”
    “How much is left?” Beth asked.
    I shook the camera, like that would make the slightest difference, and checked it again. “A few minutes,” I said. “I’ll have to charge it again before we put it back upstairs.”
    “So lots of weirdness, but nothing concrete,” said Derek.
    “Is there anything else you’ve found?” I asked him, handing him back the camera.
    Derek took it from me and said, “I’ll let you know. I’ve not got to the photos taken when you heard the footsteps yet, and with the timestamps messed up it’s really hard to tell where they are. I wish I could plug this into the laptop.”
    “No no no,” Chloe said. “You’re not going back upstairs!”
    “I have to anyway. The video camera battery is likely nearly dead as well, so we need to recharge it.
    “Uh oh,” said Beth. She was holding out her smartphone. The battery level was critically low.
    I checked mine too and saw the same. Yet we’d charged ours off the recharger station when we arrived.
    While Chloe and Derek checked their own phones, I went over the recharger. Thankfully it was still showing a decent amount of battery left.
    “Maybe power is only draining upstairs,” I said as I plugged my phone and Beth’s into two of the sockets. I had two bays left, and Derek reluctantly handed over his phone (nearly dead) and the camera and I plugged them both in.
    “Now I really want that laptop,” Derek said again. “Who’s coming with me to get it?”
    None of us moved.
    “We need to conserve our light,” I said.
    “We need to leave,” Chloe snapped. “Who’s to say the car battery isn’t dead too? Maybe we should get it running before it goes flat.”
    “That’s a really good point, Jim,” said Beth.
    “The car hasn’t been upstairs,” Derek protested.
    “The point is we don’t know what’s causing the drain or if it’s limited to anywhere,” I said.
    Derek shrugged. “Okay, well why don’t you go out and see if the car starts?”
    “I’d rather be all ready to go in case it only has enough juice to start the once.”
    “Oh Jesus, fine. Let me get the laptop and then we can all go together. Deal?”
    “Okay then,” I agreed, picking up the spare lamp again. “Let’s go.”
    “You don’t need to come with me. Really, it’s fine. Just start packing stuff we’ll need. Bring food too, I’m getting hungry.”
    I thought Chloe would protest Derek going upstairs alone, but I think she was just relieved we were finally leaving. A weight seemed to have lifted from her. She gave Derek a kiss and a smile before he switched on his torch and left the room, the door staying open behind him. We listened as his footsteps ascended the stairs.
    “Right,” I said, making the others jump. “Chloe, pack as much food as you can. Beth, bring the charger with the phones still plugged in. I’ll bring the two supply bags—they shouldn’t be too heavy without the tripod and stuff.
    The scream, when it came, made us all freeze in place. We stared at each other in shock.
    “Derek,” Chloe screeched.
    The three of us barrelled out into the hallway. I barely remembered to grab the lamp as we went. Beth clicked on her torch but Chloe had nothing. She was already running for the stairs despite the darkness. Beth hurried after her, doing her best to keep the steps lit so that Chloe wouldn’t trip.
    The scream came again, but it wasn’t from above. I paused with my foot on the first step.
    “Guys,” I called.
    “Chloe wait up,” I heard Beth call upstairs on the landing. “Jim’s trying to tell us something. Chloe!”
    Clearly she couldn’t make Chloe stop. I tried calling up again.
    “Hey Chloe,” I yelled, loud as I could. “Derek’s down here.”
    Another scream,