The rain was drumming against the metal guttering of the old house in South Street when Julia crossed its threshold for the first time. The abandoned villa had been a cause for concern among the townspeople for years - and yet this was where Maks had invited her, although he did not reveal the reason. By the faintly glowing torches, the boy, an intimidated Lena and the other two - Bartek and Maja - sat in a semi-circle on the dusty carpet. Their faces, alternately illuminated by the flashes of the storm, seemed almost unreal. - Shall we get started? - Maks asked, looking at Julia. She was new to this group, but she could sense that they shared more than just an acquaintance from school. She felt that each of them carried a weight of unseen emotions. The air was thickening with unspoken words. As they sat in a circle, Maks took a small, carefully sealed box out of his backpack. - Each of us is to confess the one thing we are most afraid of, but have never told anyone. Then we will open this box," he announced quietly. His voice trembled, but determination smouldered in his eyes. Bartek, usually a confident sportsman, looked at the window as if looking for an escape. Maja clasped her hands in her lap. Julia felt a tightness in her throat. On the one hand, she wanted to tell the truth; on the other, she preferred to keep everything locked up deep inside. No one yet knew how much of a stranger she felt even among those closest to her. The storm was gathering force, and each confession made the air pulsate with tension. When it was Julia's turn, the lights suddenly went out throughout the house. The rumble of lightning made her jump. Then, in the darkness, they heard a quiet, disturbing rustle coming from the end of the corridor. The box they were holding between them began to move as if by itself....