The fall air outside the ancient Victorian house pressed cold against the windows, tapping the panes like eerie fingers. Shadows flickered in the corners as the wind wailed, making the building feel haunted. Inside, the living room was a Halloween-prep mess: glitter dusted the coffee table, fake cobwebs drooped from the lampshades, and toasted glue mingled with pumpkin-spice candles. Under a mound of costume fabric, a hot-glue gun cooled, forgotten.
Liam sat cross-legged on the threadbare r