The valley was no longer a place of hiding. As the SUV crested the final ridge, the stone cottage appeared below, nestled in the gold and amber hues of a late autumn afternoon. There were no black sedans idling at the gate, no men in earpieces patrolling the perimeter. The silence was absolute, save for the wind rushing through the tall grass and the distant, rhythmic clinking of a cowbell.Dante turned off the engine, but he didn't move. He sat with his hands resting on the steering wheel, his eyes fixed on the smoke curling from the chimney. Beside him, Clara—his sister, his twin, his ghost—stared at the house with an expression that shifted between awe and a deep, quiet apprehension."It’s not a fortress," Clara said, her voice small."No," Dante replied, finally unbuckling his seatbelt. "It’s just a home. It leaks when it rains and the floors creak, but the sensors are all gone."They stepped out into the crisp air. The door to the cottage flew open, and the triplets spilled out l
Last Updated : 2026-02-12 Read more