Awakening

It was eight o'clock in the morning, and Sarah was packing up the last of her belongings.

Open cardboard boxes and scattered clothes covered the floor. On the kitchen table lay a letter from a lawyer informing her that her grandfather had left her his house before he passed away.

She was folding another stack of clothes into a box when the doorbell rang.

"I'm coming!" Sarah shouted, as if whoever was outside could actually hear her.

She opened the door to find her mother standing there, looking anything but pleased.

"Sarah, don't you think you could've told me?" she snapped before Sarah even had a chance to say hello. "If it weren't for your neighbor, I wouldn't have known a thing."

"I'm sorry, Mom. Come in. I'll make some coffee, and I'll explain everything."

Her mother followed her into the kitchen and sat down at the table. Sarah poured them both a cup of coffee before taking the seat across from her.

"Grandpa left me the house," Sarah began. "I'd like to move there because—"

"You promised me you'd never move into that house," her mother interrupted sharply. "There's nothing good about that place. Why would you want to live in some old house in the middle of nowhere? You'll end up losing your mind just like your grandfather. Ever since I lived there as a young woman, I've never wanted to go back—and I never will."

"Please, Mom. Grandpa wasn't crazy. He was just old... and sick. I remember when I was little and he'd come visit us. We always had a wonderful time together."

Sarah stood up, carried the coffee mugs to the sink, and continued packing.

"Besides, I'm twenty-six years old. I think I'm old enough to make my own decisions. Colin promised he'd help me move."

Colin was due to arrive around eleven that morning to drive her to the house, so Sarah was determined to have everything packed before then.

"So," she asked while sealing another box, "did you really come all this way just because of the house? Since the neighbor already told you?"

Her mother hesitated before answering.

"Actually... I lost the silver bracelet your father gave me last year. I happened to be passing by, so I thought I'd ask if I might've left it here."

The doorbell rang again.

Sarah hurried to answer it.

Colin stood on the porch with his usual warm smile.

"So," he grinned, "ready for the big move?"

"I think so. Everything's packed. Oh, and Mom... I haven't seen your bracelet. It's probably somewhere at home."

"Mom?"

Her mother was still sitting at the table, one hand pressed against her forehead.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, sweetheart." She forced a faint smile. "I've had terrible migraines all day. My ears won't stop ringing. I'm probably just exhausted."

"All right. I'll call you later."

Colin carried the boxes, bags, and everything else into the car. Before long, they were on the road.

The drive took nearly three hours.

As they got closer, the paved road gave way to a narrow forest lane. The path became rough, uneven, and littered with loose stones. Sarah's stomach began to churn from the bumpy ride, but fortunately they had almost arrived.

When the old house finally appeared between the trees, it looked even worse than she'd imagined.

It was ancient, weather-beaten, and surrounded by a dark, silent forest.

Colin unloaded the boxes while Sarah unlocked the front door.

The moment she stepped inside, she stopped in surprise.

Despite its frightening exterior, the inside of the house was beautiful.

The wooden floors gleamed beneath the afternoon light, the furniture was old but elegant, and everything was remarkably well preserved.

"You sure you don't want me to stay the first night?" Colin asked. "I don't want you getting scared here by yourself."

Sarah smiled.

"Thanks, Colin. I'll be okay."

By the time they'd finished unpacking the last of the boxes, the sun was already setting.

Colin hugged her goodbye and headed home.

After taking a hot shower, Sarah climbed into bed, exhausted from the long day.

She had barely closed her eyes when a strange sound woke her.

Footsteps.

Slow, deliberate footsteps echoed somewhere inside the house.

For a moment she wondered if Colin had forgotten something and come back.

But then she realized the noise wasn't coming from downstairs.

It was above her.

From the attic.

As though someone was walking around up there.

Heart pounding, Sarah climbed out of bed and quietly made her way toward the attic stairs, determined to find out who—or what—was waiting above.