As Millie descended the stairs, her mind churned with questions. Whose bed was that? Why did it seem as though Nina were hiding a ghost of the past? And most chilling of all—why did the attic feel like it was waiting for her to return?

Part 4: False Appearances

Millie couldn’t shake the weight of the attic’s secrets. The bed, the toys, and Nina’s unhinged reaction were all pieces of a puzzle she couldn’t quite assemble. Still, she had to tread carefully. Nina’s temper was becoming more volatile by the day, and Andrew, though kind, seemed too distracted to notice.

One afternoon, Millie found herself folding laundry in the living room when Cecelia wandered in. The little girl watched her with those piercing blue eyes, silent as a shadow.

“Need something, Cecelia?” Millie asked, forcing a smile.

Cecelia tilted her head. “Did you see the attic?”

Millie froze, the shirt slipping from her hands. “What do you mean?”

Cecelia stepped closer, her voice barely above a whisper. “Mommy says you’re not supposed to go there. But I hear it too.”

Millie’s pulse quickened. “Hear what?”