Beneath Echoes

Eleanor Eden, who has a passion for photography, is the daughter of well-known singer Eden Harley. Due to her apartment being renovated, she needed to find a temporary home.

As her parents grew older, her household became toxic. She suffered until she decided to leave and move to a countryside apartment. Her photography career suffered because her parents wouldn't let her go outside.

Eleanor convinced her parents with the help of her nicer step-sister. After searching extensively, she finalized some houses to visit. Today was the day. She had to finalize quickly before leaving for the US to discuss her needs with the dealer.

She informed the dealer, and they agreed on a convenient day - today. While on her way, Eleanor received a call from Liam, her beloved friend who had been with her through highs and lows. She was excited to share her news about shifting homes, as they hadn't met in days. She answered..

"What's up, Liam?" Her tone was overwhelmed, sweet and gentle like usual. A grin plastered On Liam's face while he answered.

"Yup everything is great" he paused then asked

"Have you decided on which apartment to shift yet?" Eleanor smiled but as realization hit her , she stopped in midways

"No, I'm..." She paused, bulking up her thoughts

"Did I tell you about shifting?" Her tone was serious, she glared at a random spot. Liam's eyes filled with an unknown fear, he tried to cover up

"No, I must've heard through Uncle Eden" he stated, Eleanor made an O face and started walking again.

Eleanor's eyes widened as she stepped out of the car and onto the winding driveway. The real estate dealer, Mr. Jenkins, had taken her to several apartments that morning, but none of them compared to this...this mansion. The exterior was sleek and modern, with black and grey hues that seemed to shimmer in the sunlight.

"I thought we were looking for apartments, Mr. Jenkins," Eleanor said, her voice laced with confusion.

"Ah, yes, well, this is a special case," Mr. Jenkins replied, his smile a little too wide.

"The owner of this mansion is currently out of the country, and he's looking for someone to...ah, take care of the place while he's away."

Eleanor raised an eyebrow.

"And why would he offer it to me for no rent?"

Mr. Jenkins chuckled.

"Let's just say the owner is a...generous man. He wants someone to keep an eye on the place, water the plants, that sort of thing. You'll have the entire mansion to yourself."

As they stepped inside, Eleanor's eyes adjusted to the dim lighting. The interior was just as sleek and modern as the exterior, with black and grey walls, floors, and furniture. It was a bit too much, in her opinion, but she couldn't deny the luxurious feel of the place.

"So, what's the catch?" Eleanor asked, her instincts screaming at her to be cautious.

Mr. Jenkins laughed again.

"No catch, my dear. Just a little...favor for the owner. And like I said, the rent is nothing. You'll be doing him a favor, really."

Eleanor hesitated, unsure if she should trust this strange dealer and his even stranger offer. But the thought of living in a mansion, even temporarily, was too enticing to resist.

"Okay, fine," she said finally. "I'll take it."

Mr. Jenkins beamed, handing her a set of keys. "Excellent choice, Ms. Eleanor. I'll leave you to explore your new home."

As he turned to leave, Eleanor called out,

"Wait, Mr. Jenkins. What's the owner's name?"

Mr. Jenkins paused, his smile faltering for a moment before he replied,

"Ah, yes...Mr. Blackwood. You'll be hearing from him soon, I'm sure."

And with that, he was gone, leaving Eleanor alone in the vast, echoing mansion. She shivered, despite the warmth of the day, and wondered what she had just gotten herself into.

Eleanor's curiosity got the better of her as she began to explore the mansion. She wandered from room to room, noticing that each one had two doors, one leading to the hallway and another to...where? She couldn't quite figure it out. And then there were the mirrors. Large, ornate mirrors hung on the walls, both inside and outside the rooms. It was as if the owner wanted to create the illusion of a larger space, but Eleanor felt like she was being watched.

She made her way to the garage, which was enormous, with a parking lot that could fit at least a dozen cars. The garden was immaculately manicured, with a pathway leading to a small pond. It was beautiful, but eerie.

Meanwhile, Liam watched from his surveillance room, a sly grin spreading across his face. He had set the trap, and Eleanor had taken the bait. The hidden cameras were working perfectly, showing him every move she made.

"Mr. Jenkins, you're a genius," Liam said to himself, chuckling.

Back at the mansion, Eleanor felt a shiver run down her spine. She was alone, and the silence was deafening. She tried to shake off the feeling of being watched, telling herself it was just her imagination. But as she turned to head back inside, she caught a glimpse of herself in one of the mirrors. And for a moment, she could have sworn she saw someone standing just behind her.

She spun around, but there was no one there.

"Liam, you're enjoying this, aren't you?" a voice said from the shadows.

Liam turned to face his associate, a smirk still plastered on his face. "Oh, I'm just getting started."

And with that, he turned back to the screens, eager to see what Eleanor would do next.

The next day:

As Eleanor and Deniz unpacked the moving truck, Liam watched from his surveillance room, his eyes fixed on Eleanor with an intensity that made his associate, Alex, raise an eyebrow.

"Still got it bad for her, huh?" Alex said, nodding towards the screen.

Liam's expression didn't change, but his voice took on a slightly defensive tone.

"I'm just making sure she's comfortable in her new home."

Alex snorted.

"Comfortable? You're monitoring her every move, Liam. You've got cameras in every room, even the bathroom."

Liam's gaze never wavered from the screen.

"I need to know she's safe."

Meanwhile, Eleanor and Deniz chatted and laughed as they unpacked, oblivious to the eyes watching them. Deniz, with his easygoing nature and quick wit, had always been the glue that held their trio together. Eleanor considered Liam a close friend, just like Deniz, and had no idea about Liam's secret obsession.

As they worked, Eleanor couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. She glanced around, but saw nothing out of the ordinary. Still, the sensation persisted.

"Deniz, I don't know why but I'm uncomfortable! Don't you think this place is creepy?" she asked, her voice low.

Deniz looked around, his expression skeptical. "Nah, it's just your imagination. This place is creepy, but I'm sure it's just the atmosphere."

Eleanor nodded, but the feeling lingered, like a shadow in the corner of her mind.

Eleanor had almost finished unpacking when Liam visited the next day, the third day she'd been in the mansion. They had tea together, and as she prepared to leave, she hurried to her room to touch up her hair and apply some perfume. As she exited the room, she stood up straight, but a shiver ran down her spine as she felt someone behind her. Trying not to show her discomfort, she slowly turned around, but instead of Liam, she saw her own reflection in the large mirror in front of her. She breathed a sigh of relief, unaware that Liam was hiding behind the wall, watching her.

Meanwhile, Liam held his breath, making sure not to make a sound as Eleanor turned around.

Eleanor checked her watch and realized she was running late. She quickly made her way to the garden, expecting to find Liam waiting for her. But he wasn't there. She scanned the surroundings, and that's when she saw Liam emerging from the front door.

"Where were you?" Eleanor asked, trying to hide her unease.

"I was just in the bathroom," Liam replied, his expression neutral.

Eleanor found his response a bit uncomfortable, but she didn't have time to think about it. They needed to leave, and so they did, with Liam walking her out of the mansion.

May I know your real identity?