Who doesn't love company when they're burning the midnight oil?

Rod looked up from his copy of 50 Shades of Grey. It was late and he had an early morning meeting with the realtor.

He closed the book and turned the metal switch on his floor lamp, then fumbled his way through the dark to the stairs. But just as he hit the bottom step, the light switched back on.

It wasn't the first time it had happened, so he wasn't particularly alarmed. At this point, he assumed the transitional urn styled torchiere had a short in the wiring.

Rod walked back across the room and inspected the bulb. It wasn't loose, so he just clicked the switch to the off position again and headed for the stairs.

This time, he had only taken a couple steps when it clicked back on. When he turned back, he saw something move out of the corner of his eye, and it made him jump.

If he didn't know better, he would have sworn it was a kid. He rubbed his sleepy eyes and blinked a few times, but nothing was there.

Rod convinced himself that it was just the shadow cast by the hand-blown glass shade, plus he was pretty tired.

He unplugged the lamp, promising himself that he'd fix it tomorrow, and then headed upstairs to bed.

But just as he reached the top, he heard a child giggling.

"I knew it! I knew I saw someone down there," said Rod as he rushed back down the stairs. "I bet it's that kid, Timmy," he thought. "But what is he doing up this late? And in my house?"

"Timmy! I don't know how you got in here but you really …" But when Rod reached the bottom of the stairs, a violent chill ran down his spine, and his whole body erupted with goosebumps.

The lamp was flickering on and off, but the cord was still unplugged.

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