Third Person POV
The car ride to the mountain house felt longer than it should have. Scarlett sat in the backseat, her legs curled under her, staring blankly out the window as Miriam drove. The winding roads became more familiar with each bend. This was Charles’s most remote property, nestled far away from city eyes, buried in thick woodland and silence.
When they arrived, the house stood untouched. Dust coated the floors, the furniture was draped in white sheets, but nothing felt disturbed. No signs of break-ins, no misplaced furniture. It was almost as though the house had been holding its breath, waiting for her to return.
Miriam opened the windows, letting the sharp, cold mountain air flow in. Scarlett moved slowly, trailing her fingers along the walls, her skin prickling with unea
