The inky blackness of the night pressed in on Brandon as he halted before the familiar silhouette of their childhood home. A chill, deeper than the autumn air, snaked down his spine. He ran a hand through his hair, the gesture betraying his inner turmoil. As he traced the outline of the porch with his gaze, the front door creaked open, revealing Theo silhouetted in the dim light.

"Brandon?" Theo's voice, laced with a mixture of surprise and suspicion, cut through the stillness. He stepped ...