"My mom says I’m not good with women. She also said stop bringing them home unconscious. But here we are.”

────୨ৎ────

In the blistering Arkansas heat, Dexter Hill watched the new woman move into the old Stillman place—a house heavy with dark history. She came alone, carrying boxes and a dog, stirring unease in the quiet woods. Dexter’s eyes followed her, uneasy and wary. Out here, no one just moves in like that. Something about her—and this summer—felt wrong.

────୨ৎ────