Chapter 2

THUD!

My eyes snap open, my heart racing as the sound of something breaking echoes outside. I yawn, glancing at my digital watch—it reads 3:03 AM. A chill of unease runs through me. Strange. I rub my eyes and push the sheets aside, the wooden floor cold beneath my bare feet.

The corridor stretches ahead, dark and eerily still. I shiver as a gust of wind brushes past, though all the windows are shut tight. My fingers rest on the doorframe, recoiling instantly at the cobweb's stickiness. Spiders—ugh. I wipe my hand on my dress, suppressing a shudder.

A faint, acrid scent of burning fills the air, mingling with the metallic tang of fear. Near the staircase, my eyes catch sight of a shattered vase. My frown deepens—how did it fall? Before I can ponder, a shadow flickers at the edge of my vision.

I gasp and spin around, heart hammering against my ribs. Nothing. Just darkness stretching endlessly around me. My throat tightens, and the cold wind brushes my skin once more, leaving goosebumps.

I lick my dry lips and shake my head. Maybe I'm just imagining things. The past week has been rough, and this house does seem unnerving at night. I sigh, deciding there's no point in investigating further.

As I step back into my room, I freeze. The window is wide open, the moonlight visible. Between the tree's tangled branches, the moon glows beautifully, it almost feels wrong to have such a beautiful view of nature.

"My wife~" a voice whispers, freezing me in place. My eyes widen as I spin around, searching desperately for the source. There's nothing. Just emptiness.

I stagger back, heart pounding, as the realization crashes over me: it's his voice...My dead husband's voice. Tears spring to my eyes, blurring my vision. This can't be real.

I glance at the mirror—and there he is, grinning like the monster he always was, his eyes an unnatural white. I scream, falling to the ground, covering my head with trembling arms, willing him to disappear. The scream tears through my throat, relentless until I'm gasping for air.

When silence falls, I peek through my fingers. He's gone. My sobs shake me as I curl into myself.*Why is this happening? Why here?

Dragging myself to my feet, I stumble toward the bathroom. I need water. I can't leave this room, not with the shadows of my past stalking me. The creak of the old bathroom door makes me flinch. Flicking the light switch, I watch it flicker weakly before settling into a dim glow.

The bathroom is Victorian style. Cream-colored walls contrast with the warmth of wooden floors. A large tub, a small cupboard by the mirror, untouched and inviting. It should feel comforting, but instead, the space feels alien, like it's waiting to betray me.

I grip the edge of the sink, my knuckles turning white, my reflection trembling with me. Was it real? Or was it my mind playing cruel tricks?

With shaky hands, I open the tap and watch as the tap gargles the water. I take some in my palm and drink it, without caring if it's okay or not. I can't go out...I just can't.

I splash the water on my face and close my eyes, taking a deep breath to gather my thoughts. It's okay, everything's okay. Sleep.

I close the door and immediately dive into my bed's comfort. I pull my blanket above my head as if it would shield me from everything but in a way, it did. At least the warmth it bring made me relax . I close my eyes and soon, sleep takes over me.