Demonstration sample — replace this illustrative text with Melissa R. Mendelson’s own writing before publication. This is not a verified work by Melissa.
The house had been empty for so long that the neighbors had stopped looking toward it. Its dark windows gathered the dusk, and the path to its door disappeared beneath weeds.
Then, one evening, a light appeared in the upstairs window.
Mara watched from across the street. She knew the house had no electricity; she had seen the utility crew disconnect it years ago. Still, the small golden square held steady, as if someone inside had just turned on a lamp.
A curtain stirred. Behind the glass, a shadow moved—not toward the light, but away from it.
Mara reached for her phone. Before she could call anyone, the window went dark. Across the street, the front door eased open.
The house had been empty for years. Mara was certain of that. She was less certain about the figure waiting in the doorway.
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