That night, the knocks came again.

Three soft taps.

I kept my eyes closed, pretending to sleep while my heart pounded.

The next morning, I watched the footage.

What I saw chilled me to the bone.

Margaret stepped out of her room in a long white nightgown and walked slowly down the hallway. She paused directly outside our door, glanced around like she wanted to be sure no one was watching, and tapped three times. Then she simply… stood there.

For ten long minutes, she didn’t move. Her face blank. Her eyes hollow. Like she was listening for something — or someone. Then she turned and walked away.

I confronted Liam, trembling.

“You knew something was wrong, didn’t you?”

He hesitated. Then quietly said, “She doesn’t mean harm. She just… has her reasons.”

But he wouldn’t explain further.

I was done with unanswered questions. That afternoon, I approached Margaret myself.