When Officer Matthew Klein arrested his best friend Simon's son, Zach, for attacking a local

cafe on December 1st, he had no idea.

It was just the beginning.

That same day, an antique Advent calendar appeared on his doorstep, anonymous, heavy,

with 24 numbered doors and an unsettling carved face

watching from its center. Inexplicably, only Matthew could open the doors. Behind the first was a

perfect replica of his childhood home, which exploded into flames in his hand. That night,

a damaged voice whispered through the darkness, words that would haunt him,

Uncle David, can you hear us?

The calendar's gifts proved both prophetic and personal.

A red feather appeared hours before a cardinal caused Pastor Hart's near fatal crash. A crystal star's

tips turned bloody before City Planner Bridget Carr was found dead, the town's massive

decorative star embedded in her skull. The pattern was undeniable. The calendar knew things

that it shouldn't, predicted tragedies it couldn't possibly foresee. When Matthew

attempted to break the rules by opening a door early, a shadowy child materialized, reeking

of smoke and campfire to enforce them. One day at a time, follow the rules, or the consequences

will be dire."

Door 4 shattered Matthew's carefully constructed life.

Inside was a police mugshot of his Uncle David, the demon of Bayville, a serial killer

infamous for removing victims' eyes.

The truth came flooding back.

Matthew Klein was really Matthew Norris, the sole survivor of a Christmas Eve fire in 1995.

...