Though his mother has passed away, she visits Jon every night before he sleeps to say goodnight. One night, she doesn't appear, and Jon is unable to sleep. His father creates a solution, tying a red thread to his own toe and giving Jon the other end to hold. The thread is for him to tug on if he feels scared. Later that night, Jon wakes with a jolt and follows the thread. It leads not to his father's room, but down the hall, out the front door, and into the dark forest at the edge of their property – the place he fears most.