Chapter 1: The first night
The first thing I noticed about the house was how quiet it was.
Not normal quiet.
Dead quiet.
The kind of silence that feels like something is holding its breath… waiting.
I dropped my bag by the door and forced a laugh.
“Cheap rent comes with creepy vibes, I guess.”
The landlord had been too eager to give me the place. No questions. No delay. Just keys and a strange warning:
“If you hear anything at night… ignore it.”
I should have left right then.
But I didn’t.
That night, sleep didn’t come easily.
The bed was cold. Too cold.
I turned to the other side, pulling the blanket closer—then froze.
It felt like someone had just moved.
Right beside me.
I held my breath.
Nothing.
Just silence again.
“You’re imagining things,” I whispered to myself.
Minutes passed… or maybe hours.
Then I heard it.
A soft sound.
Not from outside.
Not from the door.
From inside the room.
Footsteps.
Slow. Careful. Like whoever it was didn’t want to be heard.
My heart started pounding.
“Hello?” I called, my voice barely steady.
No answer.
The footsteps stopped.
Right behind me.
I couldn’t move.
I couldn’t even breathe.
Then—
A whisper.
So close it brushed against my ear.
“Don’t be scared…”
My whole body went cold.
I spun around—
Nothing.
The room was empty.
Door locked. Windows shut.
No one there.
But I knew what I heard.
I wasn’t alone.
I didn’t sleep after that.
Morning came like a blessing.
Sunlight filled the room, chasing away the fear from the night before. Everything looked normal again.
Too normal.
I sighed in relief and sat up—
Then noticed it.
The window.
I was sure I had locked it.
But now…
It was slightly open.
And the curtain moved gently, like someone had just let go of it.
I told myself I was overthinking.
Until that night.
This time, I stayed awake.
Waiting.
Watching.
The clock ticked slowly.
12:47AM.
1:32AM.
2:08AM.
Nothing.
I almost laughed at myself.
Maybe it really was just my imagination—
Then the light flickered.
Once.
Twice.
Then went out completely.
Darkness swallowed the room.
And that’s when I felt it.
The bed dipped.
Like someone had just sat beside me.
My chest tightened.
Slowly… very slowly…
I turned my head.
And saw it.
Not clearly.
Just a shape.
A shadow.
Sitting there.
Watching me.
Then it spoke.
Soft.
Almost gentle.
“I’ve been waiting for you…”
