The moment I stepped into my in-laws’ house, something felt… off. The air was too quiet, the atmosphere unusually cold. I called out, “Sharon? It’s Ruth. I brought you some cookies,” trying to lighten the mood.
My husband, Bryce, and I had planned to visit his parents together that afternoon, but a last-minute work emergency kept him at the office. I decided to go alone, hoping to surprise my mother-in-law with a kind gesture. Sharon had always been the type of person who made others feel welcome—her warmth and kindness were simply unforgettable.
But that day, something didn’t feel right. The lights were off, the familiar smell of coffee missing. The front door was unlocked, which wasn’t unusual, but the silence inside made my nerves tingle. I sent a quick message to my father-in-law, Frank, just to be sure. He replied quickly: “Out with the guys. Sharon’s resting. You can head home if you want.”
That didn’t sound like Sharon. She wasn’t one to nap during the day, especially if she knew someone was stopping by. I decided to look around.
That’s when I heard it—a faint, rhythmic tapping sound coming from upstairs. It was quiet, but steady. I followed the sound, heart pounding, until I found myself in front of the attic door. To my surprise, the key was in the lock. Normally, that door was off-limits. Frank had always been protective of it.
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