Outside, the winter wind howled. The knocking continued, steady and insistent.
I knew it wasn't my parents.
I stared at the door, my chest tight with unease.
Gustav reached the doorpost, turned back, and made a mocking face at me before opening it.
The moment the door creaked open, I felt his body stiffen.
His breathing quickened.His eyes widened in shock.
Whatever that stood on the other side— surely wasn't what he had been expecting.
In the next few seconds, I saw Gustav reel backward as the door was slowly pushed open. After a brief pause, two men dressed in black hooded robes stepped inside.
One of them scanned the room calmly before speaking to the other.
"Hm. Seems the information was accurate. There's likely no one else in the house."
I could feel the atmosphere change instantly.
Gustav's breathing grew erratic. Even from my cradle, I could sense his fear as the two men spoke to each other like they owned the place.
