Chapter 27 Chapter Twenty Seven

• Kate was safe at the old Gardner house—it had long been abandoned, its dusty scent and creaking walls whispering of a time long gone.
• "You'll be safe here," Cynthia said gently, holding Kate's trembling hand as they sat on an old, faded sofa near the door. The house was dimly lit, cobwebs clung to the ceiling corners, and a broken chandelier hung crookedly overhead. Wooden floorboards groaned with every step, and cracked window panes let in streaks of moonlight. Despite the decay, it was silent, hidden, and for now—safe.
• "Thank you so much, Cynthia," Kate said, her voice barely above a whisper.