House | Rules

Leo, the newest foster child, stared at the framed parchment in the hallway. It wasn't the usual "Wash Your Dishes" or "No Feet on the Couch." These were written in a sharp, elegant cursive that seemed to shimmer if you looked at it too long. Never blow out a candle you didn't light.

That night, Leo lay in bed, the silence of the woods pressing against his window. Then, he heard it. House Rules

Leo jumped. Mrs. Sterling stood behind him, her silver hair pulled back so tight it looked painful. She wasn't mean, exactly—just precise. Leo, the newest foster child, stared at the

"Privacy," she said simply. "A house this old has earned its secrets, Leo. Follow the rules, and the house will be kind. Break them, and well... it becomes quite difficult to find one’s way out." That night, Leo lay in bed, the silence