The mansion doors opened before me like the mouth of a beast. Wide, scary, waiting to swallow me whole. The air inside was colder than the rain pouring outside My heels clicked against the tiles as I stepped in, every sound echoing too loudly. Servants lined the hallway, bowing their heads. Their faces were blank but I caught everything from their eyes.

“Welcome to the Ward residence, Mrs. Ward,” They said, avoiding eye contact with me.

Mrs. Ward. The name felt too strange to hear. ...