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.

That night, Leo lay in bed, the silence of the woods pressing against his window. Then, he heard it. House Rules

"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." Leo, the newest foster child, stared at the

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. That night, Leo lay in bed, the silence