_Leah's POV_
My heart pounded as I moved back to the closet. I felt like I was playing with fire, but I needed answers. I took a breath, sliding the closet door open and carefully moving the shelf that hid the secret entrance. Darkness met me again, and I flicked on my phone flashlight and slipped inside the hidden room.
Once inside, I turned to shut the closet door. I pushed the shelf back into place. If anyone opened the closet from outside, they would see nothing unusual. The hidden room was small and still, with a silence that felt almost heavy. My hands shook slightly as I located the light switch, filling the space with a dim and pale glow. My gaze quickly found the chest on the table. It was the very thing I had come back for.
The chest was even more intricate up close, covered i
