There was an order to the chaos, a hidden pattern to the clutter than lines the walls and every horizontal surface. He could tell, without knowing quite how, that everything in the house had been placed specifically in it’s current location. He wondered what purpose the small blue elephant had, as it leaned precariously atop and already crowded mantle. It was the only item above the fireplace that had been dusted and there was an elephant-shaped hole in the curio cabinet collection.

Hours later, when the Pact came sneaking through the living room, the elephant was jostled from it’s nook and shattered with a resounding crash. It was just enough time for everyone to make it through the hidden doorway before they could be caught and squirreled away for testing. Wherever Keela had disappeared to, she’d had the time to place her warning and that gave him comfort.