Cat Kept Staring at the Basement Door in Their New Home—They Blamed Mice, But the Real Horror Was Far Worse

Moving into the Victorian estate on Willow Creek was supposed to be the culmination of years of sacrifice. For Mark and Sarah, the creaky floorboards, soaring ceilings, and stained-glass windows were charming quirks of a bygone era, not red flags. They spent their first afternoon toasting each other with champagne amidst a sea of cardboard boxes, dreaming of dinner parties and holidays in this grand, historic space. Even Luna, their usually skittish tabby, seemed to enjoy the vast, sun-drenched hallways of the second floor.