behind close doors

Morning sunlight slipped gently through the curtains of the Jacksons' new home.

Isabel smiled as she watched her husband button his shirt.

“You're leaving already?” she asked.

Adrian turned toward her with a smile. “Unfortunately. Work doesn't understand that I just got married.”

Isabel laughed.

He walked over, took her hand, and kissed her forehead.

“I'll be back before you know it.”

“I'll be waiting.”

He gave her one last smile before walking out the door.

Isabel watched his car disappear down the road.

Then she closed the door.

The house suddenly felt... quiet.

Too quiet.

She spent the afternoon arranging their belongings. Every now and then, she thought she heard something—a soft footstep upstairs, a door moving, a faint whisper from another room.

But whenever she checked, there was nothing.

She told herself she was simply getting used to the new house.

That evening, she decided to take a bath.

She entered the bathroom and turned on the light.

Everything was peaceful.

She began preparing the bath, humming softly to herself.

Then she looked into the mirror.

Her humming stopped.

A face was standing behind her.

It was unnaturally pale, stretched into a crooked expression. Its eyes were completely dark, fixed on Isabel without blinking, while its mouth hung slightly open in a smile that didn't look human.

Isabel's eyes widened.

She slowly turned around.

Nothing.

She looked back at the mirror.

The face was still there.

Closer.

Much closer.

Isabel opened her mouth to scream—

A cold hand suddenly settled on her shoulder.

She screamed.

CRAAACK!

Lightning flashed outside the window.

BOOOOM!

The bathroom went completely dark.

And the hand remained on her shoulder.