第5章 The Discovery

# Chapter 5: The Discovery Over the next week, Thomas noticed changes in the garden. Dead plants were sprouting new growth. Flowers that had been brown and withered were blooming in vivid colors. But something was wrong. The plants grew too fast — overnight, vines had wrapped around entire trellises, and roses had opened buds the size of dinner plates. "This isn't natural," Thomas said to Mrs. Halloway during their weekly check-in. "The growth rate is impossible. Plants don't grow like this." Mrs. Halloway's expression was unreadable. "These are special plants. They respond to... stimulation." "What kind of stimulation?" She smiled faintly. "The garden has always been fed. By the estate. By the family. By those who tend it." Thomas felt a knot form in his stomach. "Fed how?" Mrs. Halloway's smile widened. "With care. With attention. With everything the garden needs to thrive." She turned and walked away, leaving Thomas with more questions than answers.