Sofi Mantel was trapped in her own closet. Normally, she would have liked to do this; she was a great fan of hide-and-seek. But this time was different.

I suppose I’m still doing hide-and-seek, Sofi thought. Only it’s with a dangerous killer, not my friends.

Let’s rewind a little and see what had happened.

Sofi had been in the park feeding pigeons when a woman with straggly red hair and silver eyes had run up to her with a chainsaw. Sofi had, of course, screamed and ran home. But the woman had followed.

Back to where we started, Sofi crouched in the closet, shivering. She was scared. Not only because there was a murderer after her; she was scared because the murderer was her own mother. Speaking of the murderer:

“Sofi… Sofi…”

Sofi shivered and and clutched at a coat as her mother’s footsteps grew closer.

“I’m coming for you…”

Heart pounding, Sofi waited for the doorknob to turn―

Her mother passed the door.

Breathing a silent sigh of relief, Sofi crept out of the closet, and, easing open the doorknob, tiptoed into the kitchen. As soon as she reached the kitchen, Sofi ran to her car keys, hoping they wouldn't jingle.

Jingle.

Cursing the bells on the key chain, Sofi struggled with the heavy garage door, jiggling the doorknob, hitting it, throwing her whole body against it―

Footsteps sounded in the hall.

“Sofi?”

Sofi’s blood ran cold, though her skin was slick with sweat. She turned to the door again.

“There you are, Sofi.”

Sofi froze.

“Ive been looking for you.”

Sofi turned. Standing in the doorway was her mother, smiling thinly, holding a chainsaw.

Backing up against the door, Sofi cowered as her mother walked towards her.

“I've been neglected, Sofi,” her mother crooned. “Hurt, by people who don’t even know how good it feels.”

“How good what feels?” Sofi squeaked.

“To kill.”

Laughing, her mother started her chainsaw and swung it at Sofi. She gave a last push to the door―

Freedom! She fled, never looking back.