36- The Stranger in the Woods

I started walking back to the mansion, my steps heavy with the weight of my thoughts. The short walk outside had been a brief escape, but it wasn’t enough. It hadn’t cleared the frustration that had been building inside me for weeks. I was still angry—angry at Aiden, angry at myself, angry at everything that had happened.

But what could I do? Going back inside the mansion felt like admitting defeat, like letting Aiden win this battle of wills. I wanted to hold onto the small sense of freedom I had found, even if it was fleeting.

As I neared the mansion, the familiar rustling sound came from behind me again. I sighed, assuming it was just another small animal like before. I’d let my nerves get the better of me earlier, jumping at the sight of a harmless rabbit. I wasn’t going to let it happen again.

But this time, the rustling didn’t stop.

I froze in my tracks, listening intently as the sound continued, this time louder, more persistent. My heart skipped a beat as I turned slowly towar