The Last House on Needless Street

Ted drunkenly lifts Olivia from the crate. Olivia scratches him and hides under the couch. Ted gives up and goes to drink in bed. A small white thing falls out of the cuff of his pantleg.

When Ted is gone, Olivia inspects the object. It has an ominous, familiar scent, like blood. She toys with it until it is a note from Lauren, written on birch bark, with three small patches of blood. The note is just one word: Help.

Ted downs liquor. Disaster has struck. While doing his weekly inspections, he discovered the new nails Dee put in the plyboard she replaced. He knows someone has broken into the house. However, he realizes that whoever the intruder was, they cannot have seen Lauren or Olivia because there would have been consequences. He suspects Dee because she is the only new variable in his situation. He hears a bark outside and is momentarily relieved that it might indicate the chihuahua lady is back, but it is the orange-juice hair man. Ted is suspicious because the man does not live on his street.

Ted drinks bourbon in the yard, staring at Dee’s house.