Archive of Our Own ^beta

May 7
“Miles disappeared today, I thought he had run off but it turns out that creep had taken him to a bar. They came home late laughing like they were both drunk.”

May 8
“Miles was acting off today, not his usual mysterious self, he was acting more cautious, as if something was bothering him.”

May 9
“Miles was acting even weirder today, he wouldn't speak at all, he was always zoned out and he would flinch whenever I approached him. It also seemed that he hadn't touched any of the meals Mrs. Grose had prepared for him.”

Kate read over the entries with curiosity.
The journal had once belonged to Miles and Flora’s former caretaker, and she believed reading it would offer insights into the children.

Since it was only the first of June, the incidents described were relatively recent.
Most of the stuff written was normal and similar to what she had been experiencing so far.
What did unnerve her however, were the entries concerning Miles.
She had always observed him as enigmatic and mischievous, never as quiet and excessively cautious.
Maybe Quint was the reason Miles had been acting weird, it was the only person Kate could think of although she couldn’t say for sure as she never knew him personally.

She glanced out the window beside her, where Miles sat atop a horse while he stared off into the distance.
After that, he moved away, out of Kate’s range of view though the window.
She figured she should just keep reading the journal entries.

May 10
“Last night while I went to grab a cup of water from the kitchen, I saw Quint outside with Miles in the dark-which was super weird as it was almost a quarter past 2:00AM. What worried me was during today, miles had a faint mark, maybe a bruise around his neck. I’m not sure if I should confront it or not.”

Kate read through the words, feeling a mix of emotions—fear? Nervousness? She couldn't quite pinpoint it. But this entry left her rather perplexed.
She closed the journal when she heard someone running in the room she was in.
“Kate! Kate! Play with me!” Said a high pitched voice.
“Alright Flora.” Kate said with a smile.

Later that night, after tucking Flora into bed, Kate heard a strange noise emanating from downstairs.
It wasn't entirely surprising; she had already encountered numerous peculiar occurrences in this house.
As she made her way back to her bedroom, she noticed that Miles' bedroom door stood wide open. "Where would Miles be then?" she wondered aloud.
Entering cautiously, she quickly scanned the dimly lit room but found no trace of the teenager.
That's when she heard the strange noise again.
The sound of paper tearing pierced the quiet of the night, drawing Kate's attention like a magnet.
Curiosity gripped her, compelling her to tread softly toward the source of the noise.
Each step down the creaking staircase was deliberate, mindful of not waking Mrs. Grose, whose room was just around the corner.

Upon reaching the bottom, Kate entered the dimly lit living room and was met with a bewildering scene: Miles stood there clutching the old caretaker's journal, methodically ripping out pages.

"Miles! What on earth are you doing?!" she hissed urgently, her voice barely above a whisper.
Startled, Miles whipped his head around to face her, freezing in place as Kate slowly closed the distance between them.
"Stop it, Miles!" She reached out to grasp his wrist, but recoiled as he yanked his arm away, stumbling back with wide eyes and ragged breaths.
Kate's heart raced with concern. "Miles, I'm sorry, but what's happening? Why are you tearing up the journal?"
"Kate, please..." Miles struggled to catch his breath, his words rushed and frantic. "Just leave."
Her brow furrowed with worry and determination.
"No, Miles. I need to understand. Please, talk to me," she implored, stepping cautiously towards him, afraid to startle him further.

This was highly unusual for Kate; it was completely out of character for Miles to exhibit fear. Typically, he was the one who caused chills to run down her spine.

"You shouldn't see this," Miles said, his voice trembling with fear. "She wasn't supposed to see it either."
"She?" Kate responded gently, sensing his distress. "You mean the old caretaker? Mrs. Jessel?" she said, "And... I'm sorry, Miles, but I've already read most of what's in there."
At Kate's revelation, Miles froze, his eyes widening as he slowly turned to look at her. She watched as color drained from his face, leaving him pale and visibly distraught.
“I…What part did you get to exactly..?” He said in a low, shaky tone.

Kate explained to him about what Mrs. Jessel had written about him with a bruise partially around his neck.

As she spoke, she observed his breathing gradually ease, returning to its normal rhythm as he sighed with relief.

"Okay... I just want you to know that the bruise I had gotten was from falling off the horse. It had nothing to do with Quint," he reassured her in a calmer tone.
“A-are you sure Miles? She had also stated you were out late with Quint that night-”
“Drop it Kate. I fell off a horse, that's all. Also me hanging out with Quint had nothing to do with you, he was my friend not yours.”

He walked over to a nearby garbage can and disposed of the wretched journal into the bin, walking away presumably to his room shortly after.

Kate watched Miles walk away, as he did that, she focused at his neck and did indeed see a very faint mark. She couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right.

The way he reacted to her questions, his sudden aggression—it was all out of character for the boy she had come to know.

As she stood there, the crumpled pages of the journal still fresh in her mind, Kate couldn't ignore the pieces of the puzzle that seemed to be missing.

Why was Miles so defensive about Quint? And what was it that he didn't want her to see in the journal?
With a sigh, Kate decided to let Miles have his space for now. She knew pushing further might only drive him away.
Kate woke the next morning to the bright rays of sunlight glaring at her through the large window.

-

The next morning dawned with a heavy atmosphere lingering in Bly Manor. Kate found herself restless, her mind replaying the events of the previous night over and over again. The image of Miles, pale and shaken, haunted her thoughts.

She made her way downstairs to the kitchen, hoping a cup of strong tea might steady her nerves. Mrs. Grose was already bustling about, preparing breakfast with her usual cheerful demeanor. Kate greeted her with a forced smile, trying not to betray her inner turmoil.

"Good morning, Mrs. Grose," Kate said, pouring herself a cup of tea. "Have you seen Miles this morning?"

Mrs. Grose paused for a moment, a concerned look crossing her face. "No, dear, I haven't seen him yet. He's usually up by now. Perhaps he's in the garden or still asleep."

Kate nodded, her worry deepening. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss with Miles, especially after his peculiar behavior last night. As she sipped her tea, she glanced out the window, half-expecting to see him riding his horse or playing with Flora. But the garden was quiet, bathed in the soft morning light.

Just as Kate was about to voice her concerns to Mrs. Grose, footsteps echoed down the staircase. Both women turned to see Miles descending slowly, his usual confident stride replaced by a hesitant shuffle. His eyes avoided Kate's gaze as he entered the kitchen.

"Morning," he muttered, barely meeting their eyes. He seemed distant, lost in his own thoughts.

"Good morning, Miles," Kate replied gently, her concern evident in her voice. "Are you alright? You seemed... upset last night."

Miles shrugged nonchalantly, but his facade of indifference was transparent. "I'm fine, Kate. Just tired, I guess."

Mrs. Grose exchanged a worried glance with Kate before turning back to the stove. "Breakfast will be ready shortly," she announced, trying to lighten the mood.

Kate studied Miles intently, sensing his unease. "Miles, please," she began softly, "if something is troubling you, you can talk to me. I want to help."

Miles hesitated, his fingers fidgeting with the hem of his shirt. "It's nothing, really," he finally murmured, but the tension in his voice betrayed his words.

Kate knew pressing him further might only push him away. She nodded understandingly, giving him a reassuring smile. "Alright, but remember, I'm here if you need to talk."

Miles nodded in response, his expression unreadable. The atmosphere remained heavy throughout breakfast, punctuated by awkward silences and forced conversation. Kate couldn't shake the feeling that their fragile tranquility at Bly Manor was teetering on the edge of something darker.

After breakfast, Miles retreated to his room without a word, leaving Kate and Mrs. Grose to exchange concerned glances once more. Kate knew she couldn't ignore the unsettling events any longer. Determination set in as she resolved to uncover the secrets lurking within the walls of Bly Manor, for the sake of Miles, Flora, and herself.

“Uhm Mrs. Grose…do you know what's going on with Miles?” She paused as she took a sip of her warm tea. “From what I know, this behavior is very out of character for him.”

“I do not, apologies Kate. But I do agree with you, I’ve never really seen Miles acting like this. But in the past month, these odd behaviors have been getting more regular. He has locked himself in his room a few times. Some Days he wouldn't even come out for meals.” Mrs. Grose stated, eyes fixated on the fragile dishes she was loading into the dishwasher.

Kate nodded thoughtfully, her concern deepening at Mrs. Grose's words. It confirmed her suspicion that something troubling was indeed brewing beneath the surface of Bly Manor.

"That's worrying," Kate murmured, setting down her tea cup. "I wonder if it has anything to do with the previous caretaker's journal I found him with last night."

Mrs. Grose paused, her hands still on the dishes. "The journal? What did you find in it?"

Kate hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. "It seems to have details about Miles' interactions with Quint, the old groundskeeper. There are mentions of late-night outings and strange behaviors."

Mrs. Grose's brow furrowed in concern. "Quint... He was a troubling presence around here before... everything happened," she said carefully, alluding to the tragic events that had unfolded at Bly Manor.

"Yes, exactly," Kate agreed, her mind racing with thoughts. "Miles was defensive about it when I confronted him last night. He insisted that his bruise was from falling off his horse, not from anything Quint did."

Mrs. Grose sighed heavily, her shoulders slumping. "I had hoped those days were behind us. But if Quint is somehow back..."

Kate nodded solemnly. "It might explain Miles' behavior. But why would he tear up the journal like that? And why is he so adamant about keeping his interactions with Quint a secret?"

Mrs. Grose shook her head, her expression troubled. "I wish I had answers for you, Kate. But I fear we're treading into dangerous territory here."

"We need to help Miles," Kate said firmly, her resolve hardening. "He may not want our help, but he needs it. Whatever is going on, we can't ignore it."

Just then, they heard footsteps approaching from the hallway. Flora appeared in the doorway, her bright eyes curious as she looked between Kate and Mrs. Grose.

"Good morning, Flora," Kate greeted with a gentle smile, trying to maintain a sense of normalcy despite the mounting tension. "Did you sleep well?"

Flora nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, thank you. Can we play outside today, Kate?"

"Of course," Kate replied warmly. "Let's finish up here, and then we can go explore the garden together."

Flora beamed at the prospect, her innocence a stark contrast to the darkness that seemed to loom over Miles. Kate glanced towards the staircase, silently hoping that Miles would emerge and perhaps open up to them.

As they finished cleaning up breakfast, Kate couldn't shake the feeling that their peaceful morning was a fragile facade. Behind it lay unanswered questions, hidden fears, and a growing determination to protect the children from whatever shadows lingered at Bly Manor.

-

Later that day, during the evening, Kate had made up her mind that she would go confront Miles about all the weird behavior.
She left the living room to go to Miles' bedroom.
Once she arrived at the door, she knocked lightly.
“Miles? Are you in there? Can I come in?”
She hears Miles’ voice from in the room speak back to her.
“Uh yeah sure I guess.”

Kate slowly twisted the doorknob and pushed the door open.
Miles was sitting on the stool by his drum set, head turned towards kate.
“Miles…I don't know how to say this” Kate paused. “I'm worried about you Miles, this behavior isn't like you.”

Miles let out a shaky sigh before replying. “Kate, I told you to drop it, it's not important, nothing of it is. I can look out for myself, I’m not a child.”

Kate was about to comply when she noticed something on the younger boy’s wrist.

“Miles-” She furrowed her eyebrows slightly, “what's that on your wrist?”

Once again, the teen's face went pale as he rushed to pull down the sleeve of his red knitted sweater.

“Miles, was that a bruise? Where did that come from?” She asked, words laced with nervousness.

“It's nothing Kate.” He said, this time his voice raised slightly. “Get out. Now.”

“I'm not leaving till you tell me.” Kate spoke with determination.

“Just…ugh fine.” With that Miles stood up and walked quickly towards the door before Kate rushed to block it and close it.

“What the hell are you doing, let me out Kate.”

“No.”

“Kate t-this isn't funny.” He said with a nervous laugh. “Open the door.”

Kate's brows furrowed even further as she heard him stutter. Was he afraid?
She swiftly grabbed his wrist and pulled him over to the bed as he stumbled behind her then carefully tossed him onto his bed and looked down at him. Waiting for him to say something.
When he never did, she spoke up.
“Well?” She tilted her head.

She figured if she saw 2 bruises already, there were definitely more that were probably concealed under his sweater.

“Miles, could you take off your sweater for me?” She said in a caring voice this time.

At that moment, Miles froze staring up at Kate with wide, frightened eyes. His chest rose and fell rapidly, each breath shallow and uneven. His hands trembled slightly as he struggled to find the right words, torn between defiance and an underlying desperation to be understood.

"Kate, please," he finally whispered, his voice barely audible. “Please don't…I cant do it- not- not again.” His eyes began to tear up as he stumbled to sit up and move further away from her.

Kate's heart sank at the sight of Miles's distress. She hadn't anticipated his reaction to be so intense.
Just what did he think she was going to do to him?

“Miles…I promise I won't hurt you.”

Miles shook his head quickly at the statement. “...No…no no…you’re lying…that's what he said too. I won't fall for it again. Please Kate get out!”

Kate felt her heart wrench at Miles's words. She had never seen him like this—so vulnerable and terrified. It was clear now that whatever was troubling him ran deep, something far beyond the surface.

"Miles, I'm not Quint," she said softly, her voice breaking with emotion. "I'm not going to hurt you. I just want to understand. Please, let me help you."

Miles stared at her for a long moment, his chest heaving with each breath. His hands trembled uncontrollably as tears welled up in his eyes. Kate could see the turmoil within him, the struggle between trust and fear.

"I can't," Miles whispered hoarsely, his voice barely audible. "You don't understand. You can't understand."

Kate felt a surge of frustration mingled with compassion. She wanted desperately to reach out to him, to reassure him that he wasn't alone. But Miles was slipping further into his own world of fear and distrust.

"Just tell me, Miles," Kate urged gently, inching closer to him. "What happened? You don't have to face this alone."

Miles shook his head again, his eyes pleading with her to leave him be. "I can't... I can't..."

“Miles it's okay…it's okay. Just breathe.”

After a minute of silence, his breathing returned to normal but parts of him were still shaking like leaves.

“Miles…Can you tell me what happened..?”

“A-alright…” He took a deep breath. “So…uhm yeah so Quint…he would…he would you know…do stuff with me…against my will…kinda…but- it wasn't his fault! I never said no and- and he’s my friend! He probably had good intentions-”

The teen was cut off by Kate who wrapped him in a tight embrace.

“Miles…oh my gosh Miles…”

“I-” Miles stopped as tears quickly pooled in his eyes..

Kate held Miles tightly in her arms, feeling his body tremble with suppressed emotion. They sat on the edge of his bed in his dimly lit room, the soft glow of the afternoon sun filtering through the curtains. For a long moment, neither of them spoke, the only sound filling the room was Miles's uneven breaths and the faint rustle of fabric as Kate gently rubbed his back in soothing circles.

"Miles," Kate finally whispered, her voice breaking with empathy, "I'm so sorry you had to go through that alone."

Miles leaned into her embrace, his face buried against her shoulder, tears wetting the fabric of her blouse. He had kept this secret buried deep within him, a burden too heavy for his young shoulders to bear alone.

"I didn't know who to tell," Miles choked out, his voice barely audible. "I was scared... scared no one would believe me…or- or they’d just think that I had asked for it or enjoyed it or something…”

Kate tightened her hold around him, a mix of anger and sorrow welling up inside her for the pain Miles had endured in silence. "You don't have to be scared anymore," she whispered fiercely. "I believe you, Miles. What happened was not your fault."

Miles nodded slowly, his body shuddering with silent sobs. It was as if the floodgates had opened, and all the fear and shame he had carried for so long were finally pouring out.

“Thank you- Thank you Kate…”

He felt good about getting all that out.