Chapter 5 - Shadows in the Crawlspace
Two weeks passed. Arthur moved Ethan and Clara out of Sterling Hall and into a quiet, heavily guarded coastal residence miles away from the estate.
Despite being safe, Ethan struggled to adapt to wide, open spaces. He refused to sleep in a normal bed, often pulling his mattress into the corner of the closet where the enclosed space felt familiar and safe.
Arthur spent every waking hour with his son, working alongside top child psychologists to help Ethan rebuild his trust in the world.
"Father?" Ethan asked one evening, looking out over the ocean from the living room window.
"Yes, Ethan?" Arthur replied, sitting beside him.
"Is Victoria still inside the walls?"
Arthur wrapped his arm around Ethan’s small shoulders. "No, Ethan. Victoria is locked in a place where she can never hurt anyone again. And Sterling Hall is empty."
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"Can we burn it down?" Ethan asked quietly.
Arthur looked into his son’s dark, serious eyes and realized that true healing would require completely destroying the physical memory of their torment. "When the trial is over, Ethan... I promise you, we will tear it down to the ground."
