The move to the cul-de-sac was supposed to be a fresh start. Liam adjusted his moving box, his boots crunching against the dry, sun-baked grass of his new front yard. The afternoon heat was heavy, but a sudden breeze caused the nearby oak trees to rustle violently, casting long, erratic shadows across the lawn.

He noticed the neighbor first. An elderly man stood at the edge of the adjacent driveway, completely motionless, staring directly at Liam's house. Liam waved a hand in greeting. The neighbor did not wave back. Instead, he slowly raised a single finger to his lips, making a sharp, deliberate hushing motion before turning and retreating inside.

"Strange guy," Liam muttered, shaking off the chill. He walked inside and dropped the heavy box onto the hardwood floor of the living room. The house was dead silent, save for the faint, rhythmic ticking of an old grandfather clock left behind by the previous owners. He needed to clear his head, so he decided to take his black Labrador, Shadow, for a quick walk to explore the neighborhood boundaries.

As soon as they stepped onto the asphalt, Shadow froze. The dog’s ears flattened against his skull, and a low, rumbling growl vibrated through his chest. He wasn't looking at a person or another animal; he was staring intently at the empty, dark space beneath a streetlamp. Liam pulled the leash, forcing the reluctant dog forward, but the feeling of being watched clung to his skin like the summer humidity.