A house built by bones

~ chapter 2 ~

The day had been long and uneventful at the antique shop, and as Emilia trudged up the steps to her apartment building, she felt the familiar weight of exhaustion settle over her.

As she approached her door, she glanced at the mailbox, expecting the usual-a few bills, perhaps a catalog, and some flyers. But today, something different caught her eye. Among the mundane envelopes was a letter stamped with bold, red letters: **"URGENT."**

Her heart skipped a beat. She hadn't been expecting anything important. With trembling hands, she pulled the letter from the box and immediately noticed the return address:

**Reed & Associates
117 Raven's Peak Road
Ravens Peak, WA 98532**

The name on the envelope was unmistakable: **Mr. Samuel Reed.**

Emilia's breath hitched as she tore open the letter, her eyes quickly scanning the crisp, white paper inside. The letterhead was professional, the text formal:

---

**Dear Ms. Emilia Grey,**

**We regret to inform you that your grandfather, George Grey, has unfortunately passed away. According to the wishes detailed in his last will and testament, you have been named the sole beneficiary of his estate. This includes his residence in Ravens Peak and all associated properties and assets.**

**We kindly request that you contact our office at your earliest convenience to discuss the details of the inheritance and to arrange a meeting at our Ravens Peak location.**

**Please contact us at 555-0147 to schedule an appointment.**

**Sincerely,**

**Samuel Reed
Reed & Associates
117 Raven's Peak Road
Ravens Peak, WA 98532**

---

Emilia's hands trembled as she read the letter again, the words blurring before her eyes. Her grandfather had left her everything? But why? She had never even met the man, and her parents had never spoken of him. The mystery surrounding him only deepened.

She leaned against the wall of the hallway, trying to steady her breathing. Her parents' silence about her grandfather had always been strange, but now it felt suffocating. What had they been hiding? And why would her grandfather leave everything to her, a granddaughter he had never known?

A deep unease settled in her chest as she considered her next steps. The thought of traveling to Ravens Peak, a place she had only heard of in passing, filled her with dread. What awaited her there? What secrets had her grandfather taken to his grave?

As she slid the letter back into its envelope, her hand brushed against the edge of the paper, and a shiver ran down her spine. There was no turning back now. Whatever mysteries lay in Ravens Peak, she would face them.

With a final glance at the letter, Emilia whispered to herself, "What were you hiding, Grandpa?"

The question hung in the air as she turned off the lights, the darkness swallowing her room whole.

The next morning, Emilia arrived at the antique shop feeling as if she hadn't slept at all. The weight of the letter from the night before pressed down on her, making her movements sluggish and her thoughts scattered. Mrs. Hargrave noticed immediately.

"Emilia, dear, you seem a bit off today. Is everything alright?" Mrs. Hargrave asked as she rearranged a display of vintage teacups.

Emilia managed a small smile, but it didn't reach her eyes. "I'm just... processing some things, I guess."

Mrs. Hargrave gave her a knowing look, not pushing further as customers trickled in and out of the shop. But when lunchtime arrived, she took the opportunity to sit Emilia down at the small table in the back room, where they often shared their midday meal.