Seeing no old newspapers around, Sophie''s heart sank like a stone. She could still vividly recallst night-how she had made her way up to the attic on the third floor, breaking the door open with a hammer. She had seen the familiar bed, the children''s toys, and those old newspapers piled up like a mountain. Every scene was so clear, it hardly felt like a dream at all. "Those old newspapers must''ve been bought up by someone. After the kidnapping incident that rocked the Aldridge family, they burned all those papers," Colby said. "With their influence, if they wanted something gone, it would disappear without a trace." "Yeah, I guess you''re right..." Sophie replied. But why would anyone stack heaps of old newspapers in an attic? She shook her head, unable to shake the feeling. "I still want to check out the attic on the third floor."


    Seeing it for herself was the only way she''d feel at ease.


    "Alright, I''ll go with you," Colby said, helping Sophie up from the bed.


    As they opened the door, they found Rick standing there. He handed Sophie a set of keys. "Ms. Sophie, I''ve found the keys to the attic. Let me take you there." "Okay," Sophie nodded and headed up to the third floor.


    Once Rick unlocked the door, a musty smell mixed with dust hit them in the face. Already feeling under the weather, Sophie winced at the odor.


    Inside, the room was filled with old clocks and furniture, clearly relics from another era. None of it matched what she remembered from the night before.


    "Ms. Sophie, what made you suddenly want to check the attic?" Rick asked. "There''s not much to see here, just some old furniture from the previous head of the Aldridge family. The master never wanted to throw them out but didn''t like them either, so they got stored away. It''s dusty in there; better not to go in."


    "Looks like... it was just a dream after all," Sophie sighed, deciding not to enter. She turned to Rick and said, "Sorry to trouble you. I guess I was just curious."


    "Ms. Sophie, it''s no trouble at all. It''s just an attic," Rick replied, closing the door again.


    Colby chimed in, "Anything else you feel like doing? I''m here with you."


    "I''m feeling a bit tired, just want to get some rest," Sophie admitted.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    "Alright, I''ll take you back," Colby said, and Sophie nodded.


    Rick watched as Colby and Sophie left, then locked the attic door again, hoping Ms. Sophie wouldn''t start questioning things again.


    Downstairs, Jenna and Adler were peeking from the hallway, watching the scene unfold. Seeing Colby help Sophie down, Jenna called out, "Sophie, I heard you had a fever. Feeling better now?"


    "Much better, thanks," Sophie replied. "Jenna, Mr. Adler, did you hear anythingst night...?" "Nope, we were out like a light, didn''t hear a thing!" Jenna answered almost too quickly.


    Adler jumped in, "Yeah, yeah, slept like logs. Heard from Odie you were shouting in the middle of the night, but we didn''t catch a thing! You''ve probably been really stressedtely."


    "...Yeah, guess so," Jenna added with a forced smile.


    Noticing Jenna and Adlerward


    attempts at acting, Colby said


    casually, "Let''s head back to the


    room for a bit. I''ll warm up some porridge for you."