"The renovations have just been completed. It has nine rooms and a pool." She shook with excitement as she showed us the house. From my reaction, she could tell I was impressed and we were very likely going to take it. It was everything we asked for.

The first house we saw was nice but it just wasn't big enough for what I wanted. It was in a gated community with similar-looking houses. I frowned the minute we drove past the gates. Everything went to shit when Valens found an unassuming spot. He poked at it a bit and uncovered rotten wood. The caretaker looked stunned, ashamed and terrified all...