At the end of the dirt road, there was a burned-out foundation where a house must have stood. Beyond the ruins, I could see a dilapidated barn. Tall grasses were bent over with the weight of melted snow.
Though it had melted, the remains caused for a damp, cold trek across the overgrown property. The doors of the barn were closed…ish. One was stuck with weeds growing around it and rusted hinges stopping it from moving. The other hung on to the top hinge, but the wood around the bottom had rotted and broken, making it tilt dangerously.
Richard moved it, allowing me to duck into the barn. The smell of cats and mice, rotten wood, and mold filled the air. I could hear things scurrying in the dark corners, the hayloft, and under the floorboards.
I jumped a little when Richard took my elbow
