The mansion felt alive that night, almost as if it were waiting for something to happen. I paced the hallway, trying to make sense of the letter and Ethan's warnings.
Suddenly, a loud crash echoed from the east wing. My heart skipped. "Ethan!" I called, running toward the noise.
He was already there, fists clenched, eyes scanning the room. "Stay behind me," he warned, his protective instinct kicking in.
A shadow darted across the hall — fast, silent, and impossible to identify. I felt a chill run down my spine. Someone was inside the mansion.
The shadow moved again, this time closer, and knocked over a vase with a deafening crash. I gasped. Ethan grabbed my hand tightly.
"Who are you?" he demanded, his voice sharp.
No answer came. Only silence, broken by the echo of footsteps retreating into the darkness.
I clung to Ethan, heart racing. "Why would someone do this?" I whispered.
He looked at me, eyes serious. "Because this mansion… and the secrets it holds… are worth more than you can imagine. And now, they've started targeting us."
Fear, excitement, and a strange thrill mixed together. I realized the danger wasn't just around us — it was coming for us. And this time, there would be no running.