The Boy At The House (14)

Out on the sea it is dark by now. The wind has increased a little and the waves strike the rocks a little harder. Up in the sleeping room the six figures are lying totally still, spread out partly under the quilts. From five of them regular breathing and mild snoring is heard. Between Dilan and Paula are some comics. From Daniel neither hearable breathing nor snoring is heard, but his eyes are closed.
Suddenly a rasping sound is heard. Daniel's eyes open. It becomes silent again. But then there's another sound, then some more. Daniel sits up and listens intensively. He stretches towards Gina and pokes at her. She immediately opens her eyes.
"Listen", he says.
Gina blinks sleepily some times but tries to concentrate. Yes, there is a sound. There is no doubt it is from the bottom floor.
"What do we do?" says Daniel.
Gina looks at him.
"I think it's better if everybody is awake", says Gina.
"Okay." They poke at the others, and soon everybody is sitting up, tense, listening.
Daniel takes a deep breath.
"Okay, this is what we do." I'll sneak down carefully to see what he's up to. Then we'll make a plan."
"Shouldn't Richard go down instead, he knows him", says Dilan.
Everybody looks at Richard.
"You don't have to", says Daniel.
"I'll follow you", says Richard. "If he sees something, we pretend it's only me."
"Exactly", says Daniel.
"We'll stay here and pray for you", Gina says.
Paula shuffles towards Gina and puts her arm around her. Daniel and Richard raise up. Richard carefully unlocks the door and he and Daniel sneak out in the entrance of the second floor.