10. A Well-Timed Interruption

Before Edith could absorb the note’s words, a faint noise from upstairs pierced the silence, resounding sharply in the quiet house. Her heart racing, Edith clutched the note tightly, her eyes scanning the workshop’s shadows, now seeming ominous. Was someone in the house, or was it just her imagination, heightened by recent events? She cautiously ascended the stairs, the familiar surroundings now feeling like a labyrinth harboring secrets. As she reached the top, another noise, a distinct creak from the living room, made her heart pound harder. Holding the note, its unread message lingering in her mind, Edith’s survival instincts surged to the forefront.