Chapter 2 - A GHOST IN THE PLASTER The farther Anna walked from the ballroom, the colder the mansion became.
The music faded behind her until it sounded like something happening in another world.
The east wing had been closed for months.
Renovation signs hung along the walls. Dust covered the antique furniture. Portraits of dead Astors watched from gilded frames, their painted eyes seeming to follow her through the darkness.
Anna stopped beside an unfinished wall.
There.
Scratch.
She pressed her palm against the plaster.
Cold.
Nothing.
She almost laughed at herself.
Maybe it was a pipe.
Maybe a rat.
Maybe exhaustion had finally made her imagination reckless.
Then—
THUMP.
Anna jumped.
Her hand flew to her mouth.
A second later came a tiny sound.
"Help..."
Her blood turned cold.
It was a child's voice.
Anna leaned closer.
"Hello?"
Silence.
Then:
"Please..."
She stepped backward.
Fear screamed inside her.
She could lose her job.
She could be accused of breaking into a restricted area.
And if someone powerful wanted her gone, Anna knew exactly how easy it would be to make her disappear from the Astor Estate.
But then she imagined being trapped inside a wall.
Alone.
In the dark.
Calling for someone who never came.
Her fear became anger.
May you like
"Hold on," she whispered.
She ran.
Related Stories
