Leo jumped. Mrs. Sterling stood behind him, her silver hair pulled back so tight it looked painful. She wasn't mean, exactly—just precise.
The grandfather clock in the foyer didn’t just tell time; it enforced it. At 10:00 PM sharp, its chime was a heavy, metallic warning that echoed through the hallways of the Sterling estate. House Rules
That night, Leo lay in bed, the silence of the woods pressing against his window. Then, he heard it. Leo jumped
If you hear your name from the garden after dark, do not answer. The third door on the left stays locked. Do not knock. Always leave a saucer of milk by the cellar door. "Stayed too long at the wall, didn't you?" a voice rasped. She wasn't mean, exactly—just precise
Leo, the newest foster child, stared at the framed parchment in the hallway. It wasn't the usual "Wash Your Dishes" or "No Feet on the Couch." These were written in a sharp, elegant cursive that seemed to shimmer if you looked at it too long. Never blow out a candle you didn't light.