Basia and Philip spend the night in a tree house, but when the dark garden starts whispering, something mysterious begins to climb toward their window.
Basia and Philip loved being together, and that summer evening they had a plan that made their hearts beat faster. They were going to sleep in the tree house Philip’s dad had built, tucked high in the branches of an old oak tree.
Basia climbed up with her favourite pillow and a torch. Philip brought a warm blanket and Kazik’s teddy bear, who was going to keep them company. When Mum came with cocoa, the sky outside had turned deep blue, and the first stars were blinking above the garden.
From their little window, the tree house looked out over a world that seemed brand new after dark. The grass was silver in the moonlight. The shadows on the lawn stretched and swayed. Even the bird on the third branch had tucked its head under its wing and was snoring softly.
Basia and Philip settled under the blanket and listened to the night. Then, just as their eyes were getting heavy, they heard it.
Thud. Thud.
A soft rustle followed, closer this time. Basia lifted her torch, but the beam flickered. Philip shook it once, and the light came back stronger.
“Did you hear that?” Basia whispered.
Philip nodded. He was trying to be brave, but he moved a little closer to her.
The sound came again, louder now, right under the tree house. Something was climbing. The branches gave a tiny creak. Then, in the shaking circle of torchlight, a dark shape appeared at the window, just outside the glass, and seemed to be peering in.