Chapter 14

Dark clouds veiled the moon as the wind began to howl. Lightning streaked across the sky, followed by the low rumble of thunder. Soon, the rain poured down in torrents. The raindrops formed a steady curtain, pounding noisily against the ground. I had been sitting on the front steps, but when the rain came, I rushed to the door for cover. It didn't help much as I was already soaked. The wind carried the cold dampness right through me, making the chill seep into my bones. Behind me, the door remained shut. Unwilling to give up, I knocked again. After what felt like an eternity, the door finally creaked open. Alfred appeared, draped in a robe. His eyes widened in surprise when he saw me. "Mr. Page, come in quickly!" I stepped inside, water dripping from my clothes onto the floor. Alfred handed me a towel to dry myself off. He muttered softly, almost to himself, "I don't remember locking the door…" "She was the one who did it," I said, glancing toward the second floor. Alfred hesita