The Whispering Key

tood like a weathered sentinel against the gray December sky, its turrets piercing upward like fingers clawing at the heavens. The

se wasn't new to her; it had been her grandmother Edith's pride and joy, though Lila hadn't set foot in it since she was a child. Back then, the house had felt alive, its sprawling corr

Her boots sank into the gravel as she grabbed her suitcase from the back seat. The porch step

lcome mat, just as the lawyer had said it would be. Lila

avender. Her footsteps echoed in the cavernous entry hall as she stepped inside, her gaze drifting upward. A grand staircase swept toward the second floor

ed to herself, her voice bouncing

n frozen in time, each room a snapshot of a life that no longer existed. The parlor still had her grandmother's old ve

hable, her sharp words and piercing gaze commanding respect. But now, as Lila looked around the empty house, she realized how lonely Edith must have been. The attic called to her next. She wasn't sure why-

ingle bulb, its weak light barely illuminating the space. Shadows stretched across the

he edges of the room, their leather straps cracked with age. Lila stepped carefully

n inexplicable sensation, like she was being drawn to someth

y stack of books and unea

intricate carvings that seemed to shimmer faintly in the dim light. The metal was cool against her palm, an

heard it-

ind

t a chill racing down her spine. Lila froze, her eyes dartin

ent, save for the faint cr

t pounding. It was warm now, pulsing

ang hollow in her ears. She slipped the key into

attic door slammed shut behi

around, her eyes wide, but the door hadn't

ame again, lo

nd

hitting the hallway floor with a thud. Her breath came in sharp gasps

but Lila couldn't shake the

attic light flicker