Violet led Oliver deeper into the deteriorating boundaries of her family's old home, and the small boy couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched. The air seemed to vibrate with an invisible force, and the shadows appeared to dance and flicker, as if the walls themselves were alive with a distinct sense of disquiet.
Looking uncomfortably over his shoulder, Oliver noticed a pale, ethereal face in the window, its features hidden by the approaching darkness. He halted, his heart racing in his chest, and Violet must have sensed his anxiety, as she paused and turned to face him, her brow furrowed in concern.
"What is it, Oliver?" she said, just above a whisper.
Oliver gulped hard, his attention returning to the window, but the spectral figure was gone, leaving only the faint trace of the glass pane against the inky blackness beyond.
"I... I thought I saw something," he said, his fingers tightening over the rusty pocket watch he still had in his hand. "A face, in the window."
Violet's countenance hardened, and she looked around the room, her eyes narrowing with suspicion. "You're not the first to see her," she added, her tone tinged with apprehension.
Oliver felt a shiver go down his spine. "Her?" he repeated, his brow furrowed. "Who is she?"
Violet hesitated, her gaze falling to the ground. "My sister, Evelyn," she murmured quietly. "She... she died, years ago, and ever since then, her spirit has been haunting this house."
Oliver's eyes widened, and he felt sorrow for the girl standing in front of him. "I'm sorry, Violet," he murmured softly. "I didn't mean to-"
Violet lifted her hand, silencing him with a delicate shake of her head. "It's alright, Oliver," she responded, her expression softening. "Evelyn has always been here, watching over me. I've learned to live with her presence, even though it can be upsetting at times."
Oliver nodded, his thoughts racing with the ramifications of Violet's statement. If her sister's spirit was indeed present in this place, she could have witnessed his meeting with the ghostly beings drawn to Mr. Dunor's cursed pocket watch.
"Do you think..." he began, his voice dropping off as he scanned Violet's face for expressions of comprehension.
Violet's eyes clouded, and she slowly nodded. "Yes, Oliver," she replied, her voice solemn. "I believe Evelyn witnessed what happened. And if she does, she may hold the key to uncovering the cursed timepiece's secrets."
Oliver felt a surge of hope and anxiety, and his fingers tightened around the pocket watch once again. If Violet's sister could offer them with information on the cursed device, they might be able to break its evil hold on Mr. Dunor and the ghostly forces drawn to its power.
However, as they continued their journey into the shadows of the ancient house, Oliver couldn't shake the impression that they were being watched, with the girl in the window lingering like a silent witness to the unfolding events.
What secrets did Evelyn Sinclair keep, and would she be prepared to disclose them in order to assist Oliver and Violet in solving the riddles of the haunted timepiece? Only time would tell, as the young friends descended deeper into the unknown, their fate inexorably bound to the cursed thing and the restless spirits fighting for it.