The longer Millie stayed, the more questions she had. Why did Nina seem so desperate to control every detail of the house? Why was Cecelia always lurking in the shadows? And why, when Millie climbed the attic stairs one night to investigate the source of a strange noise, did she feel as though she wasn’t alone?

Standing in the darkness, Millie pressed her ear against the ceiling. For a moment, there was only silence. Then, faintly, a sound—soft, deliberate footsteps—echoed above her.

Part 3: The Whisper in the Attic

The footsteps from the attic above Millie’s room weren’t a figment of her imagination. They returned night after night, each sound measured and purposeful. It was as if someone—or something—was pacing back and forth, just beyond her reach.

One evening, unable to bear the tension, Millie grabbed her phone for light and climbed the narrow staircase to the attic door. The wood groaned beneath her feet, each step amplifying the dread twisting in her stomach.

She reached the top and placed her hand on the cold, brass knob. “Hello?” she called, her voice trembling. No answer. The silence was oppressive, wrapping around her like a shroud.

When she twisted the knob, it didn’t budge. Locked.