51 pages • 1-hour read
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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.
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.
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.
Husband of Paige
Father of Jenny
Father of Kai
Father of Newton
Brother of Alison
Unexpected guest of Eve Palmer
Unexpected guest of Charlie
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Warns Eve Palmer