*Constance*

Standing before the mirror, I heard a scraping noise in the hall. I turned my ear toward the noise, trying to decipher where it was coming from. It sounded like someone was dragging something heavy.

Not a second later, there was a knock at the door. I scrunched my eyebrows together, concerned about who would visit me at this hour.

I walked over to the single door, listening to the sounds from beyond. All I heard was stifled ...