Leo jumped. Mrs. Sterling stood behind him, her silver hair pulled back so tight it looked painful. She wasn't mean, exactly—just precise.
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. House Rules
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. Leo jumped
"I don't understand Rule Three," Leo whispered. "What's behind the door?" its chime was a heavy