The secret room

EMILY

The mansion felt different at midnight. Every shadow seemed alive, every creak of the floorboards sounded like a scream. I pressed my back against the wall outside my room, listening for footsteps, for any sign that James's guards were making their rounds.

Nothing.

Sarah's note was still hidden in my bra, the paper now soft from my nervous sweat. 'Third bookshelf from the window, pull the red book.' I repeated the words like a prayer as I crept down the hallway toward the library.

The library door was unlocked, which surprised me. James usually kept everything locked tight, like a prison warden. I slipped inside and closed the door behind me, my heart hammering so loud I was sure it would wake the entire house.

Moonlight streamed through the tall windows, casting eerie shadows across the rows of books. I counted the shelves. One, two, three. There it was - the third bookshelf from the window.

My hands shook as I searched for a red book. There were so many volumes, all leath