Bound by Secrets.

ed like a monolith made of icy stone and shadowy windows, seemingly watching me with a thousand unblinking eyes. I felt uneasy as we got closer and couldn't get rid of the

estate manager of Ethan, gave me

d, and heavy draperies that filtered out what little light could make its way through the clo

nnounced, opening the door to a room at the end of a long, dimly lit hal

poster bed wrapped with rich materials, a fireplace against one side, and a window looking down onto the

long. "Ethan's quarters are in the east wing," Mr. Thompson said calmly. "You will remain in

the weight of the unspoken norms fall on me. As he turned to depart, I caught a gl

g with an unknown man, I see the house as more of a jail than a home. At that moment, this was my life. I brushed the idea out of my mind and decided t

uld help, but it felt too big and too empty. Only the old mansion creaking occasionally disturbed the eerie calm of the estate. I tried to force myself to sleep and closed my eyes, but a faint s

an old house at night. Seeming to originate from the hallway outside my door, it was exces

ealing a half-lit corridor. My pulse raced as I stared into the darkness, expecting to see someone or something. None

r. My pulse hammered in my chest as I took a few hesitant steps forward, studying the darkness for any indication of what had caused the noise. Then, just as I was ready to turn around, I noticed it: a shadow fly

again, pulled by curiosity about what was going on in this place. As I followed the

ed to throb with an unnatural force, and I could sense the presence of unseen eyes on me. I k

d of the hallway, shrouded in shadow and with features concealed by the darkness.

d. The apparition disappeared as quickly as it had appeared, leaving the hallway dark

to my room, locking the door. Placing my back a

e opened, and my heart pounding, as if

s my eyes roamed round the room. I looked back, drawing closer to the bed this time, a folded piece of paper it was. It had

through the precised written note. Though the no

wander

't be discovered wandering around recklessly, was the clear and concise message. My chamber had been invaded, but

lf to the edge of the bed, feeling a thump of discom

were looming in the corners of this building, and they were getting closer. Only then did I become fully aware that this marriage and this house were far mo