Part of an ongoing serial story

Niko edged through the door, hoping his mother wouldn’t notice.
“Zephan? Where have you been? I wanted you to go and get more goat cheese from Mr.Raintree before nightfall.” She spoke quietly, without reproach, but simply describing how it had been.
Zephan grimaced. He had forgotten. “I went to the old house on Hearthstone Hill. You know the one. Bruiser had dared me, and I thought you would rather have me go than have me come home with torn and dirty clothes again.”
She turned her face in his direction eagerly. “Really? You went there? Did you try the door?”
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