Chapter 1

one

I stepped out of the beaten-up old car and onto the driveway, hearing the crunch of rocks beneath my feet. The house loomed in front of me, a run-down, two-story structure that looked like it hadn't been lived in for years.

Red Hallow. The name whispered through my mind like a forgotten memory. I had lived here once, when I was just a toddler, but I had no recollection of this place. All I knew was the pain of losing my mom and the weight of her final request—to come back to this town and the house she'd left me.

The engine of the car ticked as it cooled, and I took a moment to survey my new home. The paint was peeling, revealing weathered wood siding that had seen better days. Windows stared back at me, their glass cloudy and opaque, as if they, too, had something to hide. I shivered, pulling my jacket tighter around me, and took a deep breath of the crisp autumn air.

Uncertain, I approached the front door, my heart pounding in my chest. I inserted the key into the lock, feeling the resistance give way as I turned it. With a soft creak, the door swung open, revealing a dark interior that smelled of must and neglect.

"Mom, I hope you knew what you were doing," I murmured, crossing the threshold into the shadowy hallway.

The floorboards creaked beneath my feet as I ventured further inside, my eyes scanning the dusty furniture and faded wallpaper. In the dim light, the house seemed eerie, and I felt a chill that had nothing to do with the temperature.

I flipped a light switch, but nothing happened. "Great, the power's out," I muttered. My stomach rumbled, reminding me that I hadn't eaten since leaving the city. I'd have to find a grocery store tomorrow and stock up on supplies.

For now, I just wanted a hot shower and a soft bed. I made my way through the house, turning on my phone's flashlight to illuminate the way. The beam of light cut through the darkness, revealing a thick layer of dust covering every surface.

I spotted a hallway that presumably led to the bedrooms and continued down it, my footsteps echoing off the walls. The first door led to a bathroom, and I felt a rush of relief as I saw the shower. I set down my bags and abandoned them to turn on the faucet, grateful when hot water poured almost immediately.

At least the hot water worked.

Standing under the steaming spray, I closed my eyes, letting the water wash away the stress of the long drive and the weight of my uncertain future.

The hot water soothed my tired muscles, and I stood there for longer than I should have, lost in my thoughts. Finally, I shut off the faucet and stepped out, grabbing one of the musty towels stacked on a nearby shelf. I made a mental note to buy new ones tomorrow, along with everything else I'd need to make this place feel like home.

Dusk was falling by the time I finished unpacking and organizing my meager belongings. My stomach rumbled again, this time feeling like a burning ache, making me groan and clutch at it until the painsubsided.

I found the number for a local pizzeria and placed my order, then booted up my laptop and selected a movie—an old horror classic. While I waited for the pizza to arrive, I settled onto the ancient sofa, its cushions sinking beneath me. The furniture here was as old as the house itself, it seemed, untouched since my mother had left all those years ago. It was like she'd just up and abandoned everything, leaving her past behind without a second thought.

A sharp knock startled me, and I jumped up, realizing I'd dozed off. Groggily, I made my way to the door and pulled it open, expecting to see the delivery guy. Instead, the porch was empty, the pizza left in a box on the welcome mat. Strange.

I picked up the box, feeling the warmth radiating from it, and turned to go back inside. As I did, I noticed a figure disappearing around the corner of the house. The delivery guy, probably. I wondered why he hadn't waited for a tip, but then figured he must be in a rush, or maybe he just wanted to get out of the cold. I shrugged it off and closed the door behind me, locking it securely.

I ate my pizza and watched my movie, trying to ignore the musty smell of the ancient furniture and the drafty windows that let in the chilly autumn air. Despite the less-than-ideal circumstances, I felt a sense of peace in this run-down old house. It was mine now, and I intended to make the best of it.

* * *

Something about this town felt off. As I drove through the main street the next morning, the hair on the back of my neck stood up. The place was like a ghost town, but not in the abandoned sense—more like everyone was hiding from something. The few people I passed on the sidewalks gave me odd looks, their eyes narrowing as if they were sizing me up.

When I stopped at a local diner for breakfast, the stares continued. I felt self-conscious as I took a seat at the counter, my leather jacket and ripped jeans standing out among the flannel shirts and work boots of the other patrons. The waitress gave me a tight-lipped smile as she took my order, her eyes darting nervously around the room.

"You new in town?" she asked, her voice low.

I nodded. "Just inherited my mom's old place. Haven't been here since I was a kid."

The woman's eyes widened slightly, and she hesitated before speaking again. "Oh, you're family then. Be careful, honey. This town ain't what it used to be." She glanced around as if worried someone might overhear, then busied herself, pouring me a cup of coffee.

I frowned, stirring a packet of sugar into my cup. "What do you mean? What happened?"

She leaned in closer, lowering her voice even further. "Just watch yourself, okay? Things have a way of getting... messy around here."

Before I could ask her to elaborate, she moved down the counter to attend to another customer, leaving me with more questions than answers.

After breakfast, I walked down the street, glancing into shop windows as I passed. The locals inside gave me furtive glances, their voices hushed as they murmured to each other. I felt like an intruder, like I'd stumbled into some private club where everyone knew the rules but me.

I stopped in a small grocery store to pick up some supplies, and the owner, an elderly man with a weather-beaten face, eyed me suspiciously. "You staying at the old Vesper place?" he asked, his tone skeptical.

I nodded, taken aback by his directness. "Yes, that's right. How did you know?"

He grunted, as if confirming a long-held suspicion. "Just be careful up there, young lady. That place has a history."

A shiver ran down my spine at his words, but I forced a smile. "Thanks, I will."

I finished my shopping and headed back to my car, my mind racing. What was it about this town—about my family's home—that had everyone on edge? And why hadn't my mother ever talked about it?

As I drove back to the house, my curiosity grew. The Vesper name obviously carried some weight in Red Hallow, and I was determined to uncover the truth behind the whispers and warnings.

But for now, I had more pressing matters to attend to—like finding a working lightbulb and figuring out why the power kept flickering. As I pulled into the driveway, the sun was starting to set, casting long shadows across the yard.

I stepped inside the house, the creak of the front door cutting through the silence. The place felt even creepier in the fading light, and I couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. I told myself it was just the house settling, the normal sounds of an old building. But the hair on the back of my neck still stood on end.

"Hello?" My voice echoed through the empty rooms, and I winced at the sound. "Great, now I'm talking to myself." I rolled my eyes at my reflection in a dusty mirror hanging in the hallway.

I found the circuit breaker and flipped a few switches, but the power remained stubbornly off. "Wonderful. Just what I need," I muttered, grabbing my flashlight from my bag.

As I shone the light around the room, the beam landed on a note tucked under a vase on the mantelpiece. It was addressed to me, in my mother's neat handwriting.

My heart skipped a beat as I recognized her distinctive script. I snatched up the note, tearing it open with shaking fingers.

"Carly, my dear, if you're reading this, then you've finally come home. I always hoped you would return to Red Hallow one day, even though I knew it would be difficult for you. This place holds secrets, and you deserve to know the truth. I just hoped it would have been with me."

My breath caught in my throat. What truth? I scanned the rest of the note, but it held no further explanation, just instructions to explore the house and discover its history for myself.

"Explore the house?" I shined the flashlight around the room. "Great, a scavenger hunt. Just what every girl dreams of."

But something about the note sparked my curiosity. Despite my earlier apprehension, I found myself moving through the house with a newfound sense of purpose. I examined every corner, running my fingers over the worn furniture, searching for hidden compartments or clues.

I found a loose floorboard in the bedroom, prying it up to reveal a small, dust-covered box. Inside was a key, along with a yellowed photograph of my mother as a young woman, standing in front of the house with her arm around a man I didn't recognize.