Sometime during the night, Zoe sat up in bed. Had something awakened her? She had always been a light sleeper, so she was used to disturbances during the night. However, this seemed different.
Then, she heard it. A door hinge creaking and the sound of footsteps going past her room reached her ears. Assuming it to be a family member having a late-night nature call, Zoe lay back down.
Suddenly, another sound made her sit up again. Was that the front door?
She slipped out of bed and ran to her window. Craning her neck, she could just glimpse her older sister, Joan, walking across the lawn in her pajamas. Curious, Zoe rushed to her closet and threw on her jacket and slippers. She raced downstairs, careful not to make any sound to disturb her parents. Soon, she was outside.
Joan had made it all the way to the end of the block, and Zoe had little experience running in slippers. In the end, however, she caught up with her sister. "Joan," she called, pausing to catch her breath.
To her surprise, the older girl did not even react but continued on her way. Zoe stumbled after her. "Joan! Wait up!"
Again, no response. Finally, Zoe grabbed Joan's arm and turned her around. Joan's eyes stared straight ahead, her face impassive. The younger sister shook her to no avail. "Joan! Wake up!"
