THE GRANDFATHER'S CLOCK in the corner chimed nine times, its deep resonance echoing through the suddenly quiet house.
Outside, the estate had settled into the kind of profound darkness that only existed far from city lights, where shadows seemed to breathe with their own malevolent life.
Mailah stretched in her chair, wincing as her muscles protested the hours of motionless concentration.
The mental sanctuary they had built together still hummed at the edges of her consciousness—a warm, protective presence that made her feel less alone than she had in years.
But as the reality of nightfall settled around them, another sensation crept in:
Dread.
She found herself glancing repeatedly at the windows, where the darkness pressed against the glass like something alive and hungry.
Every shadow seemed to shift with potential threat, every creak of the old house's settling timbers made her pulse spike with anxiety.