They see every single piece of her clothing, save for a single white nightgown, has been slashed to ribbons and thrown about the room. When they open Nan's door, they are hit with a stench of something dead. As they climb the stairs, Ned is filled with dread and feels petrified for a reason he can't pinpoint. She agrees, and the two go upstairs to gather some of her things. The cops say the woman committed suicide by throwing herself off the balcony - but Nan knows that's not true.Īfter everyone leaves, Ned tells Nan he doesn't think she should stay alone in the house, and invites her to stay in his basement apartment, next door.

Ned goes over once again to see what's going on and watches as the ambulance takes one woman away - another lying dead on the floor. Later that night, Ned wakes up and sees a fleet of cop cars and ambulances pull up next door. Upon leaving, Ned asks if she's sure he can't help he sees true terror in her eyes as she assures him, no, he can't help. She's very off-putting and pushes him away, rebuking all his offers of help and refusing to answer his questions. He finds his neighbor's niece, a girl his own age, named Nan, sleeping outside in an old car. However, a little while later, Ned sneaks next door anyways. Ned offers to go check it out, but she forbids him, saying the women of that family are no good. Edwin Kearse, who just died two weeks ago, has a niece who moved in right before his passing, and Lorena thinks she is throwing a party.

One night, Lorena is looking at her neighbor's property after seeing flashes of light and noise. Sixteen-year-old Ned and his mother have just moved to Winfield to help care for Ned's aging grandma, Lorena.

Baby Doll by Marilyn Knight