Chapter 1 The Job

The advert was too good to be true. That should have been my first warning.

“Housekeeper needed. $10,000 per month. Must live on-site. No family required.”

I stared at my laptop screen in my tiny apartment. Ten thousand dollars. Every month. That would pay Mom's hospital bills and my student loans. Maybe even leave something extra that I could live on.

My phone buzzed. Another medical bill. Another amount I couldn't pay.

I clicked "Apply Now" before I could change my mind.

Three days later, I drove my old Honda up a mountain road that seemed to go on forever. Tall trees blocked out the sun. Fog wrapped around everything like a cold, wet blanket. My GPS kept saying "Continue straight" even though I hadn't seen another car for an hour.

Then I saw it. Blackthorn Estate.

The house was huge. Dark stone walls reached up three floors. Windows stared down at me like eyes. The front door alone was bigger than my whole apartment.

I parked and grabbed my two suitcases. Everything I owned fit into them.

The door opened before I could knock.

"Miss Martinez?"

The man in the doorway made me forget how to breathe. He was tall, with shoulders that filled the door frame. His dark hair had silver streaks, though his face looked young. But his eyes were gray like storm clouds and seemed old. Very old.

"I'm Donovan Wolfe," he said. His voice was deep and smooth. "Welcome to Blackthorn Estate."

His handshake was warm but careful, like he was afraid of breaking my hand.

"Thank you for this opportunity, Mr. Wolfe."

"Please, call me Donovan." He took my suitcases like they weighed nothing. "Let me show you to your room." He took me inside while I walked behind him.

The inside was even bigger than the outside. Dark wood covered every surface. Paintings of forests and moons hung on the walls. Everything smelled like pine and something else I couldn't name.

"The house has one hundred and twelve rooms," Donovan said as we climbed a giant staircase. "You'll only need to clean about twenty. The rest stay locked."

"Why locked?"

He glanced back at me. "I enjoy my privacy. I work from home and prefer not to be disturbed."

We stopped at a door on the second floor. The room inside was beautiful. It had a big bed with soft blue sheets, a bathroom with a huge tub, and windows looking out at the forest.

"This is mine?" I couldn't believe it. Back home, my room was just a quarter of this room.

"Of course. You'll be living here full-time." He set down my bags. "There are a few rules."

My stomach tightened. Here it comes.

"First, never enter the basement. Second, the west wing is off-limits. Third, don't go outside after dark. The woods are dangerous."

"Dangerous, how?"

"There are wild animals like bears and mountain lions." He smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Fourth, if you hear strange noises at night, ignore them. This is an old house. It makes sounds."

I nodded, though something felt off about his explanation.

"The kitchen is stocked. Eat whatever you want. New food arrives every Monday. You don't need to shop." He handed me a phone. "This connects to the house system. If you need anything, ask ARTEMIS."

"Artemis?"

"Our smart home assistant. ARTEMIS, say hello."

A woman's voice filled the room. "Hello, Miss Martinez. I'm here to help."

I jumped. The voice seemed to come from everywhere.

Donovan almost smiled. "You'll get used to her. One more thing. Here's your salary."

He handed me an envelope. Inside was a cheque of ten thousand dollars.

"The first month, in advance," he said. "If you stay the full year, there's a fifty thousand dollar bonus."

My hands shook. This money would change everything.

"Thank you," I whispered.

"Dinner is at seven. The dining room is downstairs, first door on the left." He turned to leave, then stopped. "Sierra?"

"Yes?"

"You're safe here. As long as you follow the rules."

The way he said it made me shiver.

That night, I barely slept. The house made strange sounds. I heard creaking, tapping, and something that sounded like breathing in the walls. But the worst part was the howling.

It started at midnight. Low and sad, like something in terrible pain. It came from below the house. From the basement I wasn't supposed to enter.

Those weren't wild animals. I knew what dogs sounded like. This was different. It was bigger and sadder.

It sounded more like human.

I pulled the covers over my head and told myself it was just the wind. Just the old house settling. Just my imagination.

But deep down, I knew I was lying to myself.

Something was very wrong at Blackthorn Estate.