Chapter 356


    I halted abruptly, and Hannah darted to my side in an instant. ncing back, I pressed a finger to my


    lips, signaling her to keep silent.


    She nodded in understanding, and we stood there, holding our breath, straining our ears to catch any


    sound.


    Truth be told, it wasn''t all thatte, but since only a third of the usual residents lived along Oldtown


    Avenue, and they were scattered at that, it felt muchter.


    Thene was eerily quiet and one could hear a pin drop.


    After a long pause with no further sounds, Hannah gave me a puzzled look, spreading her hands and


    shrugging her shoulders in confusion.


    I remained silent, motionless, and she didn''t dare move, continuing to listen intently to our


    surroundings.


    Moments ago, I was certain I''d heard the wooden gate in my backyard creaking, and I knew it wasn''t


    the children – they''d be chattering away cheerfully, not this silent. That thought sent a chill down my


    spine.


    The yard behind my house used to be a small property, long uninhabited and left empty. I''d checked it


    thest time I was here; it had been renovated, separated from my backyard by only a narrow alley.


    That little courtyard was distinctive, with high walls that made it seem secure and mysterious. The gate


    was particrly unique, with a solid wooden structure and an arch overhead, securing the courtyard in


    a way that even during lively times, it seemed isted from the world.


    Inside the courtyard stood a quaint two-story building, its windows carefully restored to their original


    state during the renovation.


    A small garden hugged the wall, nted with a row of palm trees, and a wooden perg was draped


    with wisteria. Below it sat a wooden tea table nked by a couple of rocking chairs.


    I was especially fond of this view.


    Legend had it that the courtyard was once the dwelling of a bookkeeper and his wife from the grand


    house that my family owned. After his untimely death, his widow lived there alone. Despite being well-


    off, she kept to herself to avoid gossip, making the courtyard very private.


    She rarely interacted with the outside world, living with just a maid who handled all errands.


    Following the widow''s death, the property was left to the maid, who lived there, married, and raised


    children, until her son took her to an apartment in the city, leaving the courtyard vacant.


    It was the first property my father acquired, which led to him owning nearly half the street.


    I thought I had heard the gate creak, but it was so faint, I couldn''t be sure it was from this courtyard.


    At this hour, it couldn''t be my father wandering here in the dark, and I didn''t believe there would be


    thieves—there was nothing to steal.


    I''d have to suggest to my dad that we install cameras, not just on the main street but in these alleys


    too.


    I gestured for Hannah to follow and stepped lightly toward the courtyard.


    Approaching the gate, I suddenly heard a slight noise, as if something was being moved.


    Hannah heard it too; she grabbed my arm and nodded at me.


    Honestly, without Hannah by my side, I would have been really scared.


    Then, another sound of something being dragged reached us, and I was sure it came from the direction


    of the courtyard.


    We both moved towards the sound, my heart racing, legs turning to jelly.


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    As we got closer, I stopped to listen, but there was silence.


    I tugged Hannah''s sleeve, motioning her to move forward. She nodded in understanding and we


    tiptoed through the narrow alley. Pulling me behind her, she then pressed her body against the wall


    while leaning toward the wooden door.