The hallway on the second floor was bathed in sunlight streaming through the square windows to the right. It didn’t feel eerie after all that Aunt Rosie just said to them. But looking around, every corner seemed steeped in years of careful keeping. Polished wooden floors stretched beneath their feet, their shadows spilling across the gleaming surface. 

Honestly, it was so quiet that all they could hear were their own footsteps, the soft hum of their luggage wheels, and the steady tap of Aunt Rosie’s cane on the floor. To their left were lined with dark paneling and old portraits. Liam felt the painted eyes linger, following them as they moved down the hall. He tugged Anton’s left sleeves. He looked at him and whispered, “What’s wrong?” his tone was soft, glancing at Aunt Rosie’s back as they followed. 

Liam just shook his head quietly, trying to calm his thoughts so as not to feel the overwhelming presence lingering in the hallway. It carried a faint scent of earthy, musty wood, as though the house had been breathing in silence for years. People who attended the mansion had been carefully trained on where and when to come to the second and third floors. 

But Anton seemed to understand, his eyes drifting around the corridor, and he noticed a small bundle of rowan branches hung above some doors, their red berries long dried but still clinging stubbornly to the stems. He couldn’t resist but asked Aunt Rosie. 

“Excuse me,” Anton said as Auntie Rosie looked sideways at him, knitting her brows. He gulped as they stopped walking. Liam wondered. The air flowed gently, as though nothing were out of place. 

“I’m not trying to be nosy or rude,” Anton spoke politely. “But I noticed that some doors have a bundle of rowan branches hung on the doors. Are these the doors you mentioned that are forbidden to enter?” he asked calmly. Liam did notice as well. It looked less like decoration and more like a quiet warning—something meant to keep unseen things from crossing the line. 

“You have a good eye, young lad,” Aunt Rosie said. She looked at the dried rowan branches as if wondering why those doors had been forbidden even before she started working in the manor. “Considering those haven’t decayed for years, we were told never to take them off.” She moved along without saying anything further. Anton and Liam exchanged glances, bothered by her reluctance to talk. They just followed her quietly. Even though there were still questions hanging in their thoughts, unanswered, Liam pondered that they would probably come to know one of those days.

“The room you’ll be staying in isn’t as grand as you think, since you live in big cities,” Aunt Rosie was referring to Liam. She stopped in front of two doors without the rowan branches. It was the farthest on the left wing of the second floor. 

“These are the only rooms available for any guest who stays in the manor,” she said, then pointed her right cane to the left as their eyes followed. “And that way is the lavatory. Any questions?” she added, nonchalantly, looking at them. 

Liam and Anton looked at each other. The hallway was quiet, yet the sunlight coming through the windows felt warm. 

“I’ll go into this room, Sir Liam,” Anton said as he grinned at him. Liam dipped his head. “Then, I’ll use this room. I’m glad that we are next to each other, and it’ll be easier when I need you,” Liam smiled, feeling at ease. He looked at Aunt Rosie. 

“Ahm, Aunt Rosie, if we need anything at any time, should we just ring the bell?” Liam asked softly. Aunt Rosie’s brows narrowed. Liam looked timid that Anton wanted to speak on his behalf. But―

She cleared her throat, tapping her cane gently on the floor. “Since you know the unspoken rules of this mansion, you are free to roam around,” she paused, quietly glancing to her right at the far end of the hallway. It was too dark to see, as if sunlight never reached that end. Liam noticed where she looked. It was as if there was another wing of the mansion. 

“What’s in that direction, Aunt Rosie?” Liam asked. There was nothing unusual he felt. Anton glanced as well, thinking it must be another path that was forbidden. 

“Nothing to be afraid of,” she spoke composedly. “It’s another pathway that leads you to the third floor, but it’s currently not accessible since some of the rooms need renovation.” She said. She again didn’t explain any further, as if she was keeping a secret about what the Hawthornes used to live here.   

“Well, I must let you rest, and the butler will come for you when dinner is ready,” Aunt Rosie said, leaving them speechless as the steady tap of her cane echoed like a ticking clock, fading slowly down the hall. 

 Anton unlocked the room that Liam would use. He said, “You must be tired, Sir Liam. Let’s―” but Liam cut him off, looking back at him, hands in his pockets, looking serious, “I told you…call me Liam from now on, Anton,” his tone sounded firm as Anton’s brows flinched, feeling a chill run down his bones. 

Liam’s gaze seemed to pierce his chest as something had changed for a moment. So he just replied, “I apologized, I must have forgotten.” Meeting Liam’s eyes, he said, “Let’s head in, Liam.” His lips curled into a smile. Then Liam grinned as if nothing had happened. “You’re right, I’m tired,” he said, stepping into the traditional room. Anton swallowed nervously and followed him inside.