023

The Dark Secret

Charlotte hesitated at the door, her heart hammering in her chest. The strange noises she’d heard earlier were louder now, muted thuds, followed by what sounded like heavy, uneven breaths. She pushed the door open cautiously, unsure of what to expect.

The sight that greeted her stopped her in her tracks.

Astor sat on the floor, his back against the bed frame, one hand gripping his wrist tightly while the other clutched a broken piece of glass. Blood seeped from a fresh cut on his arm, dripping onto the floor in rhythmic patterns. His face was pale.

Charlotte’s first instinct was to step back, to leave...