What was that...?

  The words slipped from Reed’s lips as though he’d forgotten to hold his breath. Everyone sat frozen, their minds still caught in the echo of the witch’s voice. A chill lingered in the room, though the flickering candlelight had returned.

  Reed reached for a gss of water, his hand trembling—but paused halfway. Could even water be trusted in a pce like this?

  No one spoke. No one ate. The silence stretched long as their eyes darted across the room, searching each face for answers that didn’t exist.

  The only ones holding it together were Seraphine, Elias, and Bridget—not because they felt safe, but because someone had to. They were the oldest, and leadership, whether asked for or not, was thrust upon them by default.

  Seraphine broke the silence first.

  “We shouldn’t trust that woman,” she said sharply. “It could be a trap. A game to make us turn on each other.”

  It was a reasonable suspicion, a protective instinct. But after what they’d just witnessed—the voice, the vanished old woman, the darkness that swallowed all sound—who could truly deny it?

  Elias sighed, weary. “It could be a lie,” he said, his voice steady but thoughtful. “But we can’t be certain.”

  He stood, dusting off his coat, and turned to face the rest of the group. His voice was firm as he addressed them.

  “No one leaves this room. If you need the bathroom, or anything, you go in pairs. Two people. That’s final.”

  Bridget nodded without a word, her presence a silent agreement. The others, though hesitant, followed suit.

  Then, Marin’s soft voice cut through the quiet. “And how do we escape?”

  Elias sighed again. “Leave that to me.”

  But Seraphine wasn’t about to let him off so easily.

  “You’re not exempt,” she said ftly. “If no one leaves, that includes you.”

  Elias met his older sister’s gaze, his eyes unwavering. He nodded once. “As you say, Sister.”

  Then he added with a faint smirk, “Honestly, this mansion might be easier than whatever's waiting for us outside.”

  Seraphine looked at him, confused, but said nothing. She wasn’t sure if she should agree or be disturbed by his words.

  Elias reached into his coat for a cigarette, but before he could light it, Marin swiftly snatched the pack from his hand.

  “You should cut down,” she said quietly.

  Elias gave her a small, knowing smile. “Maybe.”

  He took the pack back without protest. Marin didn’t argue further.

  Bridget, ever silent, stood nearby—an unspoken presence, always by his side, never ahead or behind, just beside.

  The food still sat untouched on the table. Tobey looked at it with hungry eyes, but Seraphine kept a firm hand on his arm, unwilling to take the risk just yet. She couldn’t bring herself to trust it.

  Time passed. An hour, maybe more. The stillness was thick.

  Lina and Reed pyed quietly in the corner—some childish game to fill the empty space. Tobey had fallen asleep in Seraphine’s p, curled up as if nothing in the world could touch him. Marin sat nearby, her eyes closed as she whispered prayers to a god who might not even hear her in this cursed pce.

  No one moved. No one trusted.

  Until Seraphine spoke again.

  “We should search the mansion,” she said, her voice low but resolute. “We can’t sit here forever. The longer we wait, the worse things get.”

  Elias shook his head. “Not yet.”

  “Why not?” she demanded. “If we stick together, the impostors won’t dare do anything. We can’t afford to sit idle.”

  Elias didn’t answer right away. There was a hesitation in his eyes—a glimmer of doubt. He didn’t have an answer, not one that would reassure her.

  Finally, he stood.

  Without another word, he walked to the table where the untouched food y. The others watched him, confused, until he picked up a fork, cut a small piece of meat, and brought it to his lips.

  He chewed. Swallowed. Then sat back, as if nothing had happened.

  The room was stunned into silence.

  Seraphine’s heart skipped. “Elias, are you insane?” she whispered.

  But he didn’t respond. He simply stared ahead, calm as ever.

  But to Seraphine, it wasn’t calm. It was something else. Something she hadn’t seen before. Something she didn’t understand.

  She had known him since the day he was born.

  She was only two when their mother died giving birth to him—a mother she barely remembered. Their father, grieving and bitter, had cast Elias out, bming the infant for a tragedy no one could control.

  Elias grew up in a church, alone.

  When their father died, Seraphine was nearly an adult. Her stepmother—a kind and sorrowful woman—had brought Elias back into their home. She had always regretted what happened to him, but it had been out of her control.

  Still, Elias had never truly returned. He was kind, polite—but distant. A stranger living in the same house.

  Seraphine had never thought of him as a brother. Not like Lina or Tobey. He was always a shadow, passing through their lives.

  And to him, she knew, they were strangers too.

  The only ones Elias ever let close were Bridget, his ever-silent maid, and Marin, the friend he kept at arm's reach but never dismissed.

  Elias had never been one to risk himself. Never one to act for others—especially not for them.

  So why now?

  Why take that first bite of food?

  Why risk himself when no one asked him to?

  Seraphine’s mind spun. Had she been wrong about him all this time?

  The question was left hanging in the air, unanswered.

  Elias leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable, as though nothing had happened.

  But everything had.

  One by one, the others slowly began to eat, drawn by their hunger and reassured by Elias’s calm gesture. Soon, the room was filled with the soft ctter of cutlery and the scent of warm food. It was more than just edible—it was delicious. Of course it was. Bridget had made it.

  For the first time since arriving, there was ughter. Reed made Lina ugh with a silly face. Even Marin allowed herself a small smile. For a brief moment, the mansion didn’t feel haunted. It felt... human.

  When the meal was finished, Seraphine quietly approached Elias.

  “Why did you eat first?” she asked.

  Elias gnced at her, eyes unreadable. “I was hungry.”

  Seraphine narrowed her gaze, but the answer didn’t surprise her. That wasn’t the real reason, of course. He wasn’t a good liar. But the simple lie made her chuckle, just a little— a dry, tired ugh that softened her expression.

  Of course he wouldn’t say the real reason. Of course he wouldn’t admit he did it for them.

  But the warm moment didn’t st long. Reality always had a way of returning.

  Marin approached, smoothing the wrinkles from her skirt. “Seraphine,” she said stiffly. “Can I ask you to come with me? I need to find the restroom.”

  Seraphine hesitated. “We don’t even know where it is.”

  “I know,” Marin said. “But we can’t sit here forever.”

  Elias exhaled, his voice almost tired. “She’s right. You were the one who said we should search the mansion, remember?”

  He stood, brushing off his coat. “Let’s find the basics—restrooms, food storage, beds if we can. The essentials.”

  The others nodded, silent but resolute.

  Seraphine walked over to Lina and Reed, still pying quietly by the wall. “We’re going to search the mansion. Stay close to each other. Hold hands and don’t let go.”

  They nodded, scared but obedient.

  Seraphine bent to pick up Tobey, still curled on the floor sleeping gently.

  But something was wrong.

  Cold.

  Too cold.

  She touched his face.

  Cold.

  Her breath caught in her throat. “Tobey?”

  She shook him gently.

  No response.

  “Tobey... wake up.”

  This time, she shook him harder. “Wake up.”

  Still nothing.

  Desperation cwed at her chest. “Tobey. TOBEY!”

  No movement. No breath.

  “TOBEY!”

  Her scream tore through the mansion like a bde.

  And just like that, the warmth shattered. Reality came crashing back—cruel, unrelenting.