Esme let out a sigh as she adjusted the painting back onto the wall, her fingers lingering for a moment. The hidden compartment was a comforting secret, but tonight something about it felt heavy. She turned toward the bookshelf in the corner of her room, her eyes settling on a book she knew too well: Twins' Safety.
A wry smile tugged at her lips as she pulled the book halfway out. A soft click echoed in the quiet room, and the bookshelf creaked open, revealing the hidden passage.
She stepped into the corridor, the dim space flickering to life as tiny bulbs lit the way. The faint hum of electricity filled her ears, but her mind was elsewhere, bracing for the encounter she wasn't ready for. At the end of the passage, a pristine white door stood like a silent guardian.
Esme raised her hand, knocking twice. Nothing.
