The hallway was unnervingly silent as Aurora crept out of her room, her bare feet padding softly against the cold wooden floor. The air was different tonight—thicker, heavier, like it carried secrets just waiting to be exhaled. Her candle flickered in her trembling hand, its tiny flame casting long, swaying shadows along the walls.
She paused at the corner, her breath caught in her throat, eyes darting to check if anyone else was awake. But the manor was asleep, as if the very walls were holding their breath.
