Dante froze. He definitely heard a voice down there. And a kid, no less. Or someone trying to sound like a kid…

Dante glanced toward the front of the shop. Mr. Imp was busy ushering the teenagers out. Nobody else seemed to be reacting to the voice. Either they hadn’t heard it, or he was losing his mind.

“Dios mío,” he murmured, mostly to himself. “This is how people die.”

He hesitated another second. Then, because curiosity got the better of him, Dante took a slow step closer.

“Hello?” he called, quieter this time, like he didn’t want Mr. Imp hearing him any more than he already had to. “…Who’s in there?”

He stopped again, glancing once toward the front of the shop before looking back toward the door.

“I’m not opening it,” he added quickly. “Just…” He exhaled. “Are you okay?”