_Leah's POV_

My heart pounded as I moved back to the closet. I felt like I was playing with fire, but I needed answers. I took a breath, sliding the closet door open and carefully moving the shelf that hid the secret entrance. Darkness met me again, and I flicked on my phone flashlight and slipped inside the hidden room.

Once inside, I turned to shut the closet door. I pushed the shelf back into place. If anyone opened the closet from outside, they would see nothing unusual. The hidden room was small and still, with a silence that felt almost heavy. My hands shook slightly as I located the...