One of his feet crashed through some dry-rotted floorboards. Then Einar heard footsteps creak upstairs. He knew it must be the mysterious ghoul that had stared out the window that morning. The nine-year-old pulled on his leg, but it would not budge. The socks did not glow anymore, their ephemeral powers had gone, evaporating into the ether. With each echoing stomp dust fell from the trembling chandelier. A monstrous shadow lumbered down the staircase. A great terror seized upon Einar as heavy footfalls of the being loped closer and closer.