Julia picked up her phone, trying to decide whether she should use the flashlight to make her way down the stairs or just leave it off. After all, if there were someone--or something--waiting for her downstairs, the flashlight would alert him that she was coming. If she left it off, she could be stealthier, and maybe he wouldn’t know she was coming. If she saw him first, she could maybe get away or hide. Or wait for her mother to come home.

Maybe she should wait for her mother to come home.

“You’re such a baby,” she said, clutching her phone. For now, she left the light off. She knew...