House Rules -

That night, Leo lay in bed, the silence of the woods pressing against his window. Then, he heard it.

Leo jumped. Mrs. Sterling stood behind him, her silver hair pulled back so tight it looked painful. She wasn't mean, exactly—just precise. House Rules

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. That night, Leo lay in bed, the silence

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. If you hear your name from the garden

"I don't understand Rule Three," Leo whispered. "What's behind the door?"