Out of the box (A Candela Obscura assignment)

The Gordon family returns to their affluent Victorian-styled home after a delightful show, the echoes of laughter and joy lingering in the air. Marcus and Olivia, accompanied by their 5-year-old daughter Penelope, ascend the grand staircase that winds through the heart of their opulent residence. The ornate banisters and plush carpeting beneath their feet speak of the family's prosperity and refined taste.

The evening had been filled with enchantment, and the sparkle in Penelope's eyes mirrored the delight of the performances. Marcus carries a drowsy Penelope up the stairs, her eyelashes fluttering with the residue of happiness and exhaustion. Olivia follows closely, her heart warmed by the shared enjoyment of the night.  In Penelope's room, adorned with delicate lace and pastel hues, the parents gently tuck their daughter into her meticulously arranged bed. Despite the lingering excitement, the weariness of the late hour takes its toll. Penelope's eyes, which had sparkled with wonder at the show, now droop with the weight of sleep. The room, filled with the soft glow of a nightlight, becomes a haven of tranquillity as the little girl succumbs to dreams.

The next morning, Olivia, eager to greet her daughter and share the morning sun, enters Penelope's room. However, the room seems to hold an eerie stillness, and the sunlight filtering through the curtains casts a muted glow. Penelope, nestled in her bed, remains unmoved. Concern flickers in Olivia's eyes as she gently shakes her daughter to wake her.  To her horror, Penelope does not stir. The once vibrant, chestnut-brown locks that framed her peaceful face are inexplicably turning grey. Panic seizes Olivia's heart as she calls out to Marcus, and the air, once filled with the echo of laughter and delight, now carries the weight of uncertainty and foreboding.