House Rules -

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

"Privacy," she said simply. "A house this old has earned its secrets, Leo. Follow the rules, and the house will be kind. Break them, and well... it becomes quite difficult to find one’s way out." House Rules

Leo, the newest foster child, stared at the framed parchment in the hallway. It wasn't the usual "Wash Your Dishes" or "No Feet on the Couch." These were written in a sharp, elegant cursive that seemed to shimmer if you looked at it too long. Never blow out a candle you didn't light. Leo jumped

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. She wasn't mean, exactly—just precise

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.

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