After several hours of research, Claire asks Sam for help hiding all signs of ghost activity in the house. Sam agrees to help get the Sharpie off the bathroom wall while Claire fixes the broken frame. Claire worries that their parents will find out what is happening, and she wants to solve the mystery quickly before anything worse happens. At dinner, Claire’s dad reveals that his publisher wants him to write a second book. Claire worries that his research will attract more ghosts. Claire’s mom loves that her husband’s work sheds light on otherwise forgotten history. Claire learns that everyone will be out of the house tomorrow after school. Her mom asks her to put dinner in the oven and Claire worries about being home alone with the ghost.

Claire sleeps in her closet again that night hoping that, if she locks herself in, the ghost will leave her alone. She wakes up to the sound of scratching at the closet door and a storm outside. There is a shadow outside the door, and the air is cold. The doorknob starts rattling, and Claire decides she has to be brave and face whatever is out there. She swings the door open and finds that her bedroom is empty.