Chapter 39

The light filtering through the broken windows felt gentler today, dulled by a delicate layer of clouds. The previously oppressive odor of mildew had diminished, supplanted by the subtle, earthy aroma of the mansion's ancient beams and floorboards. The cleaning progressed slowly but consistently, and although the mansion still held an unsettling aura, it seemed a bit less daunting.

Chloe softly hummed while wiping a dusty side table with a cloth, her copper curls reflecting the dim light. From time to time, she would stop, raising a small object she had found and weaving an intricate tale about where it came from.

"Mom, check this out!" she shouted, raising a dull silver hairbrush. The bristles were twisted and frayed, yet the handle featured intricate floral engravings.

I shifted away from the spot where I was cleaning the soot-covered fireplace. "What do you have there?"