ELOISE
The grandfather clock in the distant main foyer of the Weller manor chimed 12:00 AM, its heavy, resonant strokes echoing across the dark, manicured lawns.
In the quiet isolation of the estate's guest house, I sat cross-legged on my twin bed, my heart executing a nervous, frantic rhythm against my ribs. I lived completely alone in this small space, a fact that usually gave me a sense of peace, but tonight, the silence felt thick enough to suffocate. I was dressed in soft grey pajama shorts and a simple tank top, my rich hair thrown up into a messy bun. The only light came from the dim, amber glow of my desk lamp, casting long, intimate shadows across the walls.
Tap. Tap.
The sound against my window glass was so quiet I almost missed it.
I froze, my breath catching in my th
