We Used to Live Here

Marcus Kliewer

51 pages 1-hour read

Marcus Kliewer

We Used to Live Here

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2024

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Character List

Meet the key characters, with insights into their roles, motivations, and relationships—spoiler-free.

Major Characters

Eve is an anxious woman who recently moved into a secluded Victorian house in the Pacific Northwest with her girlfriend, Charlie. She has difficulty asserting herself and frequently lets her paranoia dictate her actions, personifying her anxiety as an inner voice named "Mo" after a lost childhood toy. She possesses an acute perception for small, seemingly mundane details, which heightens her stress but allows her to notice inconsistencies in her environment.

Key Relationships

Romantic partner of Charlie

Reluctant host to Thomas

Reluctant host to Paige

Owner of Shylo

Neighbor of Heather

Charlie is Eve's confident and practical girlfriend. A former photography enthusiast, she flips houses for a living and acts as the logical counterpoint to Eve's anxieties. She is assertive, highly skeptical of the supernatural, and quick to explain away the unusual occurrences in their new home with rational arguments.

Key Relationships

Romantic partner of Eve Palmer

Host to Thomas

Owner of Shylo

Thomas is a polite, apologetic man who arrives unannounced at Eve and Charlie's house claiming he grew up there. He requests a quick tour for nostalgia's sake, pointing out old wall carvings and a dumbwaiter hidden behind wallpaper. Despite his gentle demeanor and friendly anecdotes, his lingering presence and sudden bouts of strange behavior put Eve deeply on edge.

Key Relationships

Husband of Paige

Father of Jenny

Father of Kai

Father of Newton

Brother of Alison

Unexpected guest of Eve Palmer

Unexpected guest of Charlie

Supporting Characters

Paige is Thomas's strict wife. She is highly protective of her children and deeply religious, insisting on saying a long prayer before dinner. She appears easily annoyed by her husband's passive parenting and acts somewhat judgmental toward Eve and Charlie's relationship.

Key Relationships

Wife of Thomas

Mother of Jenny

Mother of Kai

Mother of Newton

Guest of Eve Palmer

Jenny is the youngest child of Thomas and Paige. Inquisitive and adventurous, she frequently asks questions about the house and its features. Her curiosity causes a panic when she uses the dumbwaiter to sneak into the house's dark basement to hide.

Key Relationships

Daughter of Thomas

Daughter of Paige

Sister of Kai

Sister of Newton

Kai is one of Thomas and Paige's sons. He spends much of his time bickering with his brother, Newton, adding to the chaotic energy of the family's unexpected visit.

Key Relationships

Son of Thomas

Son of Paige

Brother of Jenny

Brother of Newton

Newton is Thomas and Paige's other son. Like his brother, he serves mostly as a background presence during the family's visit, frequently arguing with Kai as they explore the home.

Key Relationships

Son of Thomas

Son of Paige

Brother of Jenny

Brother of Kai

Shylo is Eve and Charlie's rescue dog, a chocolate lab. Usually cautious around new people, her reactions to the house's visitors and the environment serve as an early indicator of the home's unsettling atmosphere.

Key Relationships

Pet of Eve Palmer

Pet of Charlie

Alison is Thomas's sister, who grew up in the house with him. According to Thomas, she struggled with severe mental health issues as a teenager, believing her reality was shifting and drawing symbols on the walls to ward off bad luck before eventually turning violent.

Key Relationships

Sister of Thomas

Heather is a lonely, elderly neighbor who lives down the road from Eve. She frequently fosters stray dogs and is eager for company. She possesses historical knowledge about the area, the old Victorian house, and Thomas's childhood.

Key Relationships

Neighbor of Eve Palmer

Former babysitter of Thomas

An unidentified elderly man who resides in a strange, hidden cabin deep in the forest near Eve's house. He is highly protective of his collection of historical documents, blueprints, and maps concerning the property.

Key Relationships