True Scary Stories Told to the Sound of Rain | Relax and Fall Asleep Quickly Vol. 169 l Black Screen

hello everyone I am the Storyteller and I am here to help you today I know you use this video to fall asleep so before that like the video and subscribe to the channel also where are you from and what time are you watching now get comfortable and relax I felt my phone Buzz at 3:00 in the morning I was lying on the couch unable to sleep because my mind wouldn't shut off I work as a real estate agent mostly dealing with old houses that need a lot of Maintenance people hire me because I know how

to Market historical properties without making them seem like money pits but that night I was too Restless to go to bed my phone screen lit up the dark living room I glanced at it and saw a number I didn't recognize it had too few digits and the format was strange my chest tightened and I rubbed my eyes to be sure I wasn't misreading the text said do you see me there was an attachment I tapped on the attachment it was a photo of a house I was trying to sell downtown the place had been on

the market for months it needed a new roof and the wiring was ancient but it had these interesting Victorian details that some people love in the photo though the house didn't look right the angles were off like the structure was warped the windows were dark except for one on the second floor there was a figure standing there I couldn't make out any details but it looked tall and still like a statue I felt my skin prickle a chill passed through my arms I immediately checked the time it was 3:02 a.m. my heart was beating faster

than usual I decided to block the number but my hands were trembling and I dropped my phone on the coffee table I grabbed it again fumbled with the settings and pressed block I tried to forget about it I forced myself to lie down and stare at the ceiling until I dri it off in the morning I woke up feeling stiff I got dressed and went to my office the building is small just me and a receptionist I made a cup of coffee and tried to concentrate on the listings in my computer I kept glancing at

my phone half hoping there wouldn't be another message around 9:00 I decided to do a reverse lookup on that number I'm no Tech wizard but I know some websites that let you check phone records I typed in the weird number the results said it was invalid or disconnected that didn't surprise me then I found an old newspaper reference to that same number from about 50 years ago it said it had belonged to a small local business that handled antique furniture restoration it closed decades ago the phone line should have been long gone my breathing went

shallow I felt sweat forming on my forehead I told myself it must be a prank sometimes board people find ways to mimic old caller IDs or something like that I went back to my listings tried to schedule a showing for a different property and got lost in phone calls by noon I had almost convinced myself to ignore the strange text I had enough to worry about my sales numbers had been dropping and I needed to close a deal soon to stay afloat after lunch I grabbed my jacket and drove out to that Victorian house to

meet a potential buyer the place sat on a quiet street filled with older homes the the yard was overgrown with weeds poking through the sidewalk I stood on the cracked porch steps waiting nobody showed up I tried calling the buyer but it went straight to voicemail I found myself staring at the second floor window in daylight the house looked normal enough the paint was chipped and the shutters were loose I unlocked the front door and went inside the interior smelled musty like old wood and stale air I walked through through the empty rooms checking for

any signs of vandalism it was quiet except for the hum of distant traffic I paused in the living room the floorboards creaked under my shoes I remembered the figure in the photo I felt my stomach knot I realized I was holding my breath I swallowed hard and forced myself upstairs the second floor had three bedrooms two were empty but the third had some leftover furniture from a previous owner a dresser and a sagging mattress on the floor the window overlooked the street I stepped closer and stared outside the sun was bright and the breeze rustled

the branches on an old oak tree in the front yard everything seemed normal I took a deep breath walked back downstairs locked up and left that afternoon I met another client at a different house across town it's an early 20th century Craftsman with a decent yard in a big porch as we walked through it my phone vibrated I glanced down and felt a wave of dread it was the same number I hesitated but decided to ignore it so I could finish the showing my client was an older man looking for an investment property I showed

him the living room the kitchen the upstairs bedrooms and we talked about Roofing costs and Foundation issues my phone buzzed again I tried not to let it show on my face after he left I sat on the porch steps I opened the messages there were two texts one said I'm still here the next had a photo attached it was the same Craftsman house I was standing in but the photo was taken at night the windows were lit with a pale glow but inside I saw dark shapes like Silhouettes leaning against the glass my hands shook

my throat felt dry the hairs on the back of my neck Rose I scanned the street half expecting to see someone pointing a camera at me there was nobody around just a couple of passing cars I tried calling the number it rang once then nothing silence I stared at my phone waiting no answer my stomach churned I grabbed my bag and locked up the house on the drive back to the office I kept checking my rearview mirror I felt jumpy like every car behind me might be following my leg legs were tense and my foot

pressed the gas pedal harder than normal that evening I tried to relax at home I sat at the kitchen table staring at my phone I had a laptop open searching for any traces of that old company that had used the phone number it was called Bristol and Sons restoration or something like that I found a couple of references in Old archives nothing scandalous no big stories it just vanished around 50 years ago I sighed and rubbed my my temples then the phone buzzed again I nearly knocked over my water glass as I grabbed the phone

the text said why did you leave I tapped on the photo it was the inside of the Craftsman House's living room but the walls were warped the corners bending there was a shape in the corner that looked Almost Human but blurred my hands felt clammy my heart pounded so hard I could hear it in my ears I looked around my own living room expecting something to jump jump out it was silent I closed the curtains I tried to breathe slowly my mouth was dry and my Palms were sweaty I turned off my phone I wanted

to disconnect from everything I sat there for a while my pulse racing eventually I forced myself to get up and double check all the locks in my apartment I made sure the windows were secured I felt a little better after that but I still couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching me the next morning I went straight to the phone company's local branch I waited in line until a representative called me over I showed them the number and asked if it was possible that this line was still active the rep typed on her computer

then frowned and said it was deactivated a long time ago I asked if anyone could spoof it she Shrugged and said there were ways but it would take some effort I asked if she could trace the texts she said they'd need a request from law enforcement for anything like like that my chest felt tight I nodded and left outside the air was cool cars passed by on the busy street I decided to stop by a local historian's office I know a guy there who sometimes helps me with background information on old houses maybe he had

heard of the people who owned that phone line I walked into the old Municipal Building found his small office and explained what was happening he looked confused then searched in a few Dusty files he told me the business had been located near the historic district but closed around 50 years ago just like I'd read he didn't have anything else no known heirs no big lawsuits no tragedies that he knew about I thanked him and left feeling stuck when I got back to my office there was a note on my desk from my receptionist she said

a client had called to cancel a showing the reason wasn't clear I tried calling them back but no response then my phone vibrated another text from the same number check your email I felt my stomach twist I didn't remember giving my email to whoever this was I opened my email on the computer and there it was a single new message with no subject line inside it said I see you there was a photo attached I clicked it it showed the front of my office building taken from across the street I saw the sign the brick

walls in my own car parked out front I felt my throat tighten I stood up and rushed to the window I looked outside scanning for someone with a phone or camera a few people were walking by but nobody seemed to be aiming anything at me my hands felt cold I shut the window blinds I tried to focus on my work for the rest of the day but I couldn't think straight my mind kept going back to the photos of those houses with figures in the windows I typed out a response to the email who are

you I hit send then stared at the screen no reply in the late afternoon I decided to do something I'd been avoiding I drove back to the Victorian house I wanted to check every corner see if someone had been sneaking in to take those photos maybe it was a disgruntled Sellar or a boor trespasser my heart hammered as I parked out front the air was still and the sky was cloudy the house looked lifeless I pulled out my keys and opened the front door door the smell of dust and old wood greeted me again I

flipped on my flashlight even though it was still light outside the corners of the rooms were dim I walked around slowly checking closets looking behind doors the house was empty the floors groaned under my weight my breath sounded louder than usual I made my way upstairs again the furniture was still there in the third bedroom I looked at the dresser I opened a drawer empty I checked the mattress just stained Fabric and old Springs I swallowed and felt a shiver at the base of my neck I heard a faint buzzing from my pocket I pulled

out my phone a new text behind you my chest tightened and I spun around raising my flashlight nothing just a bare wall my pulse pounded I could hear my own breathing echo in the empty room I stepped into the hallway shining my flashight light into every corner nobody was there I felt sweat trickling down the sides of my face I clenched my teeth and hurried downstairs I stepped outside slammed the door shut and locked it I stood on the porch gulping in fresh air my phone buzzed again this time it was a photo it showed

the hallway I had just walked through at the exact moment I'd been looking around with my flashlight I could see my own back in the frame as though someone had been right behind me I felt dizzy my legs felt weak and I leaned against the railing my mind raced with thoughts I wanted to call the police but what would I say that I was getting text messages from a 50-year-old disconnected line maybe they'd think it was a hoax maybe it was a hoax but the photos felt too real I drove away hands trembling on the

steering wheel I couldn't stay at the office or that house any longer I went straight home locked the door and sat on my couch I turned on all the lights the clock said 7 I p.m. mice but it was getting dark outside my phone was silent for a while I kept checking it waiting my nerves were shot I felt restless so I paced around my living room I finally sat down at the kitchen table with a notebook trying to jot down everything I knew the text messages the photos the houses involved the old phone number

I wrote down the name of that defunct furniture restoration place I tried to see if there was a pattern each property was at least 80 years old they all had some historical significance none of them had sold yet and each photo showed shadowy figures or a warped version of the house around 9: my phone lit up with another text my heart pounded I picked it up the text said you can't hide them forever there was another attachment I opened it it was a picture of my apartment building from outside the windows were all dark except

for mine glowing with the overhead light I had turned on in the corner of the photo there was a shape it looked like a person standing in the parking lot the figure was just a black outline but I could tell it was facing my window my stomach dropped I rushed to the window and peered down the parking lot was empty just a few cars my knees felt weak my breathing came in quick bursts I grabbed my phone and typed a message back what do you want I felt my hands shaking as I hit send I

stood there staring at the phone waiting for a reply nothing came minutes ticked by the only sounds in my apartment were the low hum of the refrigerator and my own breathing I checked the locks again then paced in circles I felt adrenaline pumping in my veins my heart was racing at around 10: my phone buzzed I jerked my head and snatched it off the table the Tex said stop selling them another attachment I tapped on it it was a photo of the newest listing I had just taken on that morning an old tutor style house

on the outskirts of town the windows were pitch black and there was a tall silhouette in one of them I could see a faint outline of what looked like a hand against the glass I clenched my jaw my chest felt tight again I realized I had to decide what to do next I was too shaken to ignore it anymore I sat on the couch phone in hand waiting to see if another text would come I wanted to call someone but I had no idea who could help my stomach churned and my muscles felt sore from

all the tension I glanced around my apartment noticing how small it felt now I realized I was sweating I turned on the AC and tried to calm down I never got another text that night I barely slept jumping at every sound in the hallway outside my door when I finally closed my eyes I kept seeing those distorted photos the Silhouettes in the windows that bizarre figure right behind me in the hallway my alarm jolted me awake at 6:00 in the morning my head throbbed and my eyes felt heavy I checked my phone half expecting more

messages there were none now I'm sitting here sipping coffee heart pounding I keep checking the time waiting for some new notification I have no idea how this will end or what that old phone number has to do with these houses I just know that whoever is sending these messages wants me to stop selling them and I don't know why my body feels tense all over my hands are shaky I can't focus on anything else I've decided to pull every old listing I have I'm going to tell my clients I need some time I don't know

if that will solve anything but I can't handle more photos of warped rooms and faceless figures I keep glancing at my phone waiting for another Buzz so far nothing I'm not sure if that scares me more or less I just feel stuck like I can't escape this I'm looking outside my window right now everything seems normal cars pass by people go about their day but I can't shake the dread the images of those houses cling to my mind I see that blurry figure whenever I close my eyes my back still tingles where I imagine someone

standing behind me I don't know what happens next I only know I'm done with old properties for a while maybe I'll try to sell condos or commercial buildings instead I don't care about commissions right now I just want this to stop I keep checking the hallway outside my apartment door expecting someone to be there with a camera the air in here feels suffocating my heartbeat is loud in my ears this is my life now surrounded by silent tension and the fear of one more notification and that's all I can say I'm just waiting to see

if there's another photo another text another demand my phone is on the table it's face down I'm too scared to flip it over I'm bracing myself for whatever comes next that's the whole story so far I don't know if it ends here but I feel like something is still watching I can't prove it I just feel it in the way my skin crawls even when I'm alone so that's it that's everything and I don't know what else to do I still remember the first time I heard someone ask for room 8113 it was a Thursday

night around 9:00 p.m. I was at the front desk leaning on the counter checking some invoices a man walked in looked around like he was trying to size up the place and then approached me his shirt was wrinkled and he held a small suitcase that seemed about to burst he asked for a room but not just any room he insisted on room 813 I told him we only have three floors and our rooms go up to 310 there's no eighth floor and there's no room 8113 he glanced at the elevator then at me and shook

his head he repeated that he needed room 8113 he he didn't explain why he didn't raise his voice he just repeated the same request in a calm but firm tone I tapped the computer keyboard to show him the floor plan on the screen I told him again in a clear voice that room 8113 doesn't exist in our hotel he stared at the screen for a few seconds without blinking then he sighed and said he would settle for whatever room was available I handed him a key to room 307 he thanked me walked to the elevator

and disappeared behind the old steel doors I felt uneasy the moment they closed I couldn't understand why he was so fixated on a room that didn't exist at first I brushed it off as a weird request people sometimes have strange habits or preferences I went back to my invoices and tried to concentrate on the numbers but for the rest of my shift every time the elevator dinged I braced myself for that man to come back and ask again for 8113 later that night around 2: a.m. the phone r rang it was the desk phone an

internal call from a room extension I glanced at the screen it said 813 I stared at that number for a few seconds my heart began to thump I reminded myself that it had to be a glitch maybe our old phone system had some bug the phone kept ringing so I picked it up all I heard on the other end was a faint static noise no words no breathing just static I said hello a few times no answer then a click the line went dead I put the receiver back in place I felt a chill on

the back of my neck I rubbed the sides of my arms and tried to convince myself it was just a technical error the phone system was old and we'd had some issues before with random extensions showing up incorrectly but seeing 8813 on the screen shook me I stared at the phone for a long moment waiting for it to ring again it stayed silent around 3:00 a.m. I decided to walk around the lobby and check the common areas that's part of my routine on slower nights I strolled around checking that the lounge chairs were neat making

sure the front doors were locked from the inside and then I took the elevator to the second floor I wanted to look in on the corridors just to see if everything was okay it was quiet the carpeted hallway absorbed my footsteps so I only heard a soft UD with each step I passed room 203 204 205 and kept going everything looked normal I stopped near the elevator to glance out the window at The Empty Street below that's when I noticed a strange glow at the far end of the hallway it looked like the reflection of

a ceiling light but it was too bright for that I walked toward it feeling a knot form in my stomach I thought maybe a bulb was flickering as I got closer I saw a door at the end of of the hallway this hotel doesn't have a room at the end of that hallway the last room is 210 but I was staring at a door with the number 811 13 in brass letters I froze in place my hands felt clammmy I could feel my pulse in my ears I took a few steps forward squinting at that

number it was definitely 8 nor 13 the door looked slightly newer than the other doors it was smooth with a more modern handle I hesitated I wasn't sure if I should approach it but curiosity pulled me forward I reached out to touch the doorknob it felt cold I heard a strange hum like the buzz from an electrical panel my head started to pound so I blinked and shook it off then the hallway lights flickered once and when I looked at the door again it was gone the entire wall was just a blank stretch of wallpaper

I was left with my hand hovering in the air touching nothing I let out a shaky breath and backed away my knees felt weak I tried to rationalize what happened maybe I was exhausted in seeing things but I was certain of what I'd seen I even felt the cold door knob under my palm the rest of my shift was uneventful but I couldn't stop thinking about that door I returned to the lobby sat behind the desk and stared at the phone the man who checked in earlier never came down that night the next morning I

found him at checkout time waiting by the desk he gave me his key and asked if he could stay another night I told him we had availability and he nodded but then he repeated his request for 813 I said no we don't have that room he stayed quiet for a few seconds then told me he'd keep his current room he walked off without any explanation I wanted to ask him if he'd called the front desk the previous night I wanted to ask him if he'd seen or heard anything unusual but the way he looked at

me made me hesitate he had a flat disinterested gaze there was no warmth there no curiosity it was like he already knew the answer that night I prepared for my shift with a sense of dread I came in around 700 p.m. took over for the afternoon manager and pretended everything was fine I watched the lobby greeted guests and tried to keep busy by 10 p.m. I was alone with the night bellhop he usually dozed off in the small staff room so I didn't mind him at around 11:00 p.m. I got another call on the desk

phone the display showed 800 from 13 my heart pounded I stared at it unsure if I should answer but after a few rings I picked up again just static it hissed softly in my ear I tried speaking but nothing then a click line dead I decided to investigate I thought maybe the phone in room 307 was malfunctioning and somehow the system was labeling it as 813 I checked the occupancy list and saw the same man was still in 3007 he hadn't left I picked up a master key and went upstairs the hallway was dim the

lights flickered at random intervals but that was normal for our old wiring I went straight to 307 I knocked after a moment he opened the door halfway and looked at me he didn't say anything I asked him if he'd tried calling the front desk he said no I asked if his phone was working he said he never used it he just Shrugged I asked if I could test it he stepped aside I walked in and picked up the receiver I listened I heard the standard dial tone I pressed the button for the front desk extension

the desk phone downstairs rang and I hung up everything seemed normal he said said nothing he stared at me with that calm unreadable look I thanked him and left once I got back to the lobby I decided to check the phone system logs we have a small panel behind the desk that shows which room calls come from sure enough there was a record of two calls from extension 8113 that night there wasn't a single mention of 307 I felt a chill run through my arms I closed the panel and went back to the front desk

that's when I noticed the corridor leading to the rear exit looked longer than usual our building isn't big so that Corridor should only run about 20 ft but I was seeing it stretch out like it went on for at least 40 or 50 ft the light at the far end flickered I took a few steps toward it fighting the urge to run back to my desk my ears started ringing and my mouth went dry as I approached the end I saw a door on the right that shouldn't be there it had the number 8113 again

the same brass numerals the same newer style of wood and handle I paused Breathing heavily I looked behind me to see if anyone else was there I was alone I wanted to call out but I stopped myself it felt pointless I reached for the door knob it was cold the door felt solid under my hand not like an illusion I tried to open it but it was locked I stood there for a few seconds my heart hammering then I heard the desk phone ring from far away the hallway lights flickered I turned toward the phone

when I looked back at the door it was gone the corridor was back to its normal length I stumbled back to the front desk panting the phone had stopped ringing by then that entire night I kept seeing small changes in the architecture sometimes the lobby seemed to tilt slightly sometimes a door on the second floor shifted a few inches to the right I'd blink and it would be normal again my stomach ched with anxiety I felt sweaty and Restless I tried to keep busy with paperwork but my eyes kept drifting to the phone it stayed

quiet until morning the next day the same man appeared in the lobby around noon he looked tired there were dark circles under his eyes he said he was checking out he settled his bill and handed me his key I felt the urge to ask him more about his request for 81 something told me he knew something I didn't but I couldn't form the words he just stared at me for a moment then walked away with his suitcase I watched him leave through the glass doors that evening I thought maybe everything would go back to normal

the man was gone and maybe the calls would stop around 10 p.m. I started to feel a headache coming on I took a quick walk around the lobby to distract myself the phone rang again from extension 8113 this time I felt my blood rush to my face I grabbed the phone and practically shouted who is this static then a strange whisper like someone trying to speak through layers of cloth I couldn't make out words I waited and then a click deadline again I slammed the phone down and decided I needed to do a full check

of every floor I couldn't rest until I proved to myself that 8113 wasn't real so I took the elevator to the third floor I paced up and down the hallway looking at each door number 301 302 303 and so on everything was normal I moved to the second floor same routine everything seemed fine I stood near the elevator waiting feeling the old carpet under my shoes a slight buzzing sound came from the lights overhead then I spotted a door at the very end of the corridor it was 813 again I marched over determined to open

it this time my heart pounded in my chest chest and I could feel my lips trembling the door felt solid I pulled out the master key the lock turned but when I pushed the door wouldn't budge it felt like something was blocking it on the other side I leaned my shoulder against it pushing harder the handle rattled then I heard a loud thump from inside the room like a piece of furniture falling over my blood ran cold I stepped back sure of what to do the door slammed shut on its own and the numbers 8113

flickered like they were made of tiny bulbs then the entire door vanished in the blink of an eye I was left staring at an empty wall my leg shook as I made my way back to the elevator I pressed the button repeatedly almost frantic the elevator took forever to arrive the moment the doors opened I jumped in and went down to the lobby I felt laded and my shirt was damp with sweat I couldn't concentrate on anything for the rest of the night every noise made me jump every shadow looked suspicious at around 4:00 a.m.

I convinced myself to sit down and wait for daylight I didn't want to walk around anymore over the next few nights the phone calls kept coming always the same extension sometimes I'd answer and I'd hear that static or faint whisper sometimes I'd let it ring and it would eventually stop during my rounds I sometimes saw that door appear at the end of a hallway in corners of the lobby even once outside near the delivery entrance it always looked the same and whenever I tried to open it it wouldn't move sometimes it disappeared the second I

blinked other times I'd stand there staring until my eyes hurt and then a light would Flicker and it would be gone I started double-checking the building plans I went through old files in the back office there's no record of any eighth floor there's no mention of a room 813 our our building is only three stories tall the phone system has no extension 8113 in the manual none of it made sense I felt trapped in a cycle of confusion and fear I couldn't quit my job but every night I dreaded coming in my boss didn't believe

me when I tried to explain he said I was overworked he told me to take a vacation if I needed it but I couldn't walk away I kept telling myself I had to figure out what was going on eventually the phone calls slowed down by the fourth week I only got one call a night then they stopped entirely the door sightings also became less frequent I only saw it once every other night and it always vanished before I could get close after about 2 months it stopped appearing altogether I started to relax I tried to

push it out of my mind I forced myself to believe it was over then late one night I was alone in the lobby reading the shift notes it was quiet no guests were wandering around the phone hadn't rung in hours I suddenly felt that cold sensation behind my neck again I turned around and saw it there right behind the front desk where the manager's office door should be was a door with the number 8113 it looked freshly painted the handle gleamed under the fluorescent light my heart pounded so hard I thought it would burst I

considered running I wanted to run but I felt drawn to it I stepped toward the door my Palms sweating I rested my hand on the door knob it was cold I hesitated then turned the knob slowly it opened a crack I heard that faint buzz from inside I leaned forward peering into the dark my stomach twisted and I felt a wave of nausea then the door slammed shut on its own nearly catching my hand I jumped back a second later the door was gone replaced by the normal manager's office door complete with the manager's name

plate I stood there Breathing heavily feeling my heart race I glanced at the phone it was quiet I backed away not sure what to do my entire body was shaking my mind raced but I couldn't think of any logical explanation I realized in that moment that whatever is behind room 81 I'll never fully understand it shows up then it disappears it calls me but offers no reason I still work at the hotel I go through the motions every night checking guests in answering calls doing my rounds sometimes out of the corner of my eye I

catch a glimpse of a door with the number 8113 down some hallway or near the stairwell whenever I try to look directly at it it flickers out I I don't talk about it with anyone anymore nobody believes me anyway but I know what I've seen I know what I keep seeing and every time the phone rings in the middle of the night my hand trembles before I pick it up because I never know if it's coming from a room that shouldn't exist and maybe just maybe one night I'll open that door all the way and

I'm not sure what I'll find if I do I first spotted the tapes on a Tuesday afternoon I was in the basement of the library sorting old boxes marked storage the smell down there was always musty my nose felt clogged and dust clung to my sleeves my eyes strained under the single fluorescent light that flickered overhead I remember pulling a cardboard box off a metal shelf the top was taped shut but the edges had softened with time when I lifted it I heard a faint rattle inside I set the Box on the floor and knelt

down I tore the tape off opened the flaps and found a stack of old cassette tapes labeled with crooked handwriting dates ranged from 1972 to 1975 I'm an archist so I deal with all sorts of materials I've seen Diaries letters newspaper clippings and audio recordings but these tapes looked different the labels had names I didn't recognize and a few had short notes in pencil like session 3 or week five I felt a jolt of curiosity my heartbeat faster and my Palms got a little damp I liked finding things no one else had touched in decades

I peeled off one tape from the top it had a faint coffee stain on the label Jacob July 11th 1973 that was all it said I carried the entire box to my workstation the basement had a small table with an old cassette deck I dusted off the machine my mind raced with questions who was Jacob why did somebody keep these tapes in the library basement for so long I stuck the first tape into the player the sound crackled for a second and a distant voice came through it was a man speaking he sounded tired then

I heard a woman's voice calm and measured she asked him to describe his feelings I realized it was a therapy session my throat felt tight I glanced around suddenly uneasy like I was eavesdropping on something private I listened to about 10 minutes the man talked about his anxiety at work the woman probably his therapist encouraged him to focus on how his job made him feel I could hear the slight squeak of a chair whenever he shifted his weight I felt awkward but also pulled in after a while I decided to check another tape Maybe they

all belonged to the same person or the same therapist I rummaged through the box I saw names like Linda Craig Benson and Jacob again each label had different dates often spaced a week apart I didn't see any official markers there were no folders no typed notes just these tapes I thought about my boss he never mentioned any private recordings in the libraries inventory I figured I'd keep this discovery to myself until I knew more I selected another tape labeled Jacob August 1st 1973 and slipped it into the deck his voice came through again this time

he talked about guilt he said something about avoiding his family but he didn't say anything too specific then he mentioned a dream that kept coming back I felt my stomach tense up when he described the dream setting a small house near the edge of a park with a tall fence that detail made me pause I grew up in a place like that with a fence that felt massive I rubbed my temples I reminded myself that lots of people live in houses near Parks it didn't mean anything I spent the rest of the afternoon flipping through

the tapes I listened to bits of Linda and Craig they all seemed to be sessions with the same therapist her tone stayed level she asked about their weeks their conflicts their fears I felt a constant itch in the back of my mind something was off though I couldn't place it by the time I clocked out I felt like I had crossed some boundary my hands trembled a little when I thought about those old voices stuck on magnetic strips I carried the box to my small office and locked it in a cabinet that night I went

home I live alone in a one-bedroom apartment the floors Creek and the heater only works half the time I heated some leftover pasta ate quickly and tried to watch TV my mind kept wandering back to those tapes I felt a nervous energy in my legs I kept shaking my foot eventually I turned off the TV and sat on my couch in silence I wondered if I'd made a mistake by listening but I couldn't help wanting to go deeper I told myself I'd just listen to a couple more the next day for work rated reasons I

was an archivist after all it was part of my job to catalog these things in the morning I got to the library earlier than usual I headed straight to my office the cabinet was still locked I opened it grabbed a handful of tapes and brought them to my desk I plugged in a small tape player I found in a back closet the machine clicked when I pushed the play button I tried one labeled Jacob September 10th 1973 he talked about a confrontation with someone named Mark he said Mark accused him of lying I felt a

surge in my chest I'd had a similar confrontation a few years ago a coworker named Mark once accused me of leaving out details in a project but that was purely coincidence right people have the same names all the time my brow furrowed and I rubbed my Palms on my thighs the next tape made me more uneasy Jacob September 17th 1973 Jacob described a dream involving a corridor he said the walls were covered with pictures he didn't recognize at the end of the corridor there was a door that wouldn't open he felt trapped I remembered having

a nightmare like that the thought made my scalp prickle I leaned forward elbows on the table and listened carefully my stomach clenched Jacob said that in the dream he heard someone calling his name but the voice sounded like it was his own voice echoing back I paused the tape and took a shaky breath I felt sweat on my forehead I pressed play again but the rest was just the therapist telling him to relax at LUN I felt drained I barely tasted my sandwich I replayed the details in my head searching for any direct link to

my life I still told myself it was random there must be thousands of dream scenarios out there people dream about hallways all the time but I couldn't ignore the tension in my chest my breathing felt shallow I returned to my office deciding I'd try a tape from someone else maybe if I listened to Linda or Craig I could forget about the similarities with Jacob I picked a tape labeled Linda October 2nd 1973 she talked about a co-worker who kept undermining her she described the exact dynamic I had with a colleague named Sabrina I felt a

chill go up my arms her story included a detail about a broken elevator that forced them to use the stairs every day that happened in my building last year I stared at the tape deck my pulse pounded behind my ears my thoughts raced how could these tapes from the 1970s mirror my experiences I took a deep breath and replayed the segment to check if I misheard it was clear she said she got stuck in that elevator had to call maintenance and then spent the next week walking up four flights of stairs my mouth went dry

I tried to steady my breathing by counting to 10 in my head I closed my eyes for a second feeling the weight of the air around me I decided to look for clues about the therapist maybe I could figure out who she was I rummaged through the storage boxes I found a small notebook tucked into the corner of the box it had some scribbles appointment times random phone numbers dates from the 70s nothing pointed to a specific name or location the therapist voice was calm direct and a little raspy she sounded older but I couldn't

be sure I checked old library records there was no sign we had any partnership with a therapist back then I found no reference to these sessions in our catalog I couldn't focus on my normal work I spent days listening to more of the tapes I jotted down every detail that matched my life it felt like a puzzle each time I recognized something my heart rate spiked and my breath got shallow my back muscles got tight and I had to stand up and stretch every half hour the tapes were all from the early to mid 70s

the voices belonged to different people sometimes they talked about the city about jobs about relationships I caught references to a building on Maple Street that sounded like the place I used to live a man on a tape from 1974 mentioned a library with tall narrow windows that sounded exactly like mine I listened to that part three times my eyes fixed on the tape deck one afternoon I heard a tape labeled Benson March 3rd 1975 he described tension with a supervisor named Clark I once had a supervisor named Clark and the problem sounded the same as

mine arguments about working late confusion over who was responsible for certain tasks I felt cold sweat on the back of my neck I pulled a tissue from a box on my desk and wiped my forehead my temples throbbed every story felt like a distorted version of my own experiences the specifics weren't identical but they matched enough to scare me I started started having trouble sleeping my dreams began to overlap with what I heard on the tapes I would dream about old furniture in a drab office and wake up with my chest pounding I'd open my

eyes feeling the sheets damp around my legs I'd switch on the light and stare at the ceiling trying not to think about how real these tapes felt I avoided telling anyone at work I thought maybe I was losing my grip mixing up the tapes with my memories but the more I listened the more I realized these details went beyond chance one day I decided to record one of the sessions on my phone to analyze it later I played back a part where Jacob described a scene in his basement from the previous week's session he mentioned

a clanging sound in the pipes whenever he turned on the faucet I froze my kitchen faucet makes the same noise and my building's pipes are known to clang I recognize the way he described the echo in the walls my breathing grew faster I stopped the tape and leaned back in my chair my mind felt scrambled I kept shaking my head trying to clear it but I couldn't forget the uneasy feeling in my stomach it became an obsession I spent hours alone in the basement or in my office listening to these people talk about events that

mirrored my own I tried to track them on a timeline I wanted to see if they matched the order of things that happened in my life the sessions didn't line up perfectly but they overlapped enough to leave me on edge I felt a constant buzzing in my mind my limbs felt heavy my coffee intake went up because I struggled to stay alert I felt like I was missing something why were these tapes even in the library who made them why did they describe pieces of my life decades before I was born I considered calling someone

maybe a friend or a psychologist to explain my situation but I stopped every time I worried they'd think I was imagining it I had no proof except my word and these old tapes I scanned the library archives old newspapers and City Records I tried to find references to group therapy sessions in the 70s that might have ended up in our basement I found nothing useful the tension kept building in my chest I couldn't ignore it my hands shook whenever I put a new tape into the player one evening I stayed late at the library the

Halls were quiet and most of the lights were off I sat in my office with a single desk lamp shining on the tape deck I popped in one last tapee for the night Jacob November 20th 1973 he began by talking about feeling trapped in his job then he mentioned an incident with a co-worker that matched something I went through last month he even repeated a phrase I'd said in Anger don't twist my words I heard my own voice in my head echoing that phrase I felt my heart Hammer I jumped up from the chair and

pressed a stop my breath came in quick bursts my my arms felt weak I picked up the tape and stared at the label my throat felt tight I thought about throwing it across the room my eyes burned from lack of sleep the quiet hum of the fluorescent lights pressed on my ears my muscles achd from sitting for so long I looked at the time it was past midnight I realized how alone I was in the building I turned off the tape deck locked the box and headed to the exit as I walked through the dark

hallway I kept looking over my shoulder my chest felt squeezed and I heard my own footsteps Echo I left the library got in my car and drove home that night I kept replaying the tapes in my head I couldn't block them out my scalp felt tight with tension and I couldn't sit still in my living room I felt like the tapes had invaded my mind I looked around my apartment noticing every detail the worn carpet the flickering light in the kitchen The Faded paint on the window frame I tried to ground myself in something concrete

I reminded myself I'm here in the present but the parallels kept creeping into my thoughts every time I tried to sleep I heard the therapist's voice I saw the old cassette deck my chest felt Hollow the next morning I decided I had to stop I gathered the box of tapes from my office and locked them in a storage room in the basement I made sure nobody else would stumble on them then I told my boss I needed time off I didn't give him details my hands shook as I spoke to him but I kept it

short he nodded and approved my request I walked out of the library and got into my car I sat behind the wheel feeling both relief and a knot of fear in my stomach I kept thinking those tapes exist and they hold pieces of my life but they're from the 70s how is that possible I didn't have an answer now I'm at home trying not to think about them my hands Still Tremble When I recall Jacob's voice my chest tightens when I remember Linda's elevator story I have no idea how or why they match my experiences

I'm too unsettled to look further I'm not sure what I'll do next part of me wants to go back and Destroy them part of me wants to listen again to find an explanation but for now I'm just sitting here staring at my blank wall listening to the quiet hum of the fridge in the other room and trying to breathe in and out without feeling that prickling sense of dread I wish I had never found those tapes I'm going to be honest I had zero intention of stopping there the place looked like a ghost town from

half a mile away boarded up Windows sagging rooftops rusted cars on the side of the road the maps on my phone said nobody lived in that town anymore and I believed it still I'd been driving for hours I needed a break something in the back of my head told me it was a bad idea but I pulled off the highway anyway it was getting late and I was tired I thought I'd just stretch my legs maybe find a spot to rest and get back on the road first thing in the morning that didn't happen I

drove down the Main Street which had a cracked asphalt surface with weeds pushing through through most buildings had shattered windows or plywood nailed across the gas station at the corner looked completely gutted no pumps no sign just a battered canopy I saw an old sign that said welcome missing half its letters I almost laughed at how Bleak it looked the sun was setting and the light hit everything at an odd angle making Shadows stretch across the ground there was a feeling of emptiness around me like the place was stuck in time I parked my car

in front of what might have been a diner the windows were grimy and the door hung off a hinge I got out of my car and stretched the air smelled stale like dust in old wood my shoulders were stiff from driving too long I didn't see any sign of people so I checked my phone it still said the area was abandoned I didn't have much signal but enough to see that the nearest motel was an hour away I thought about leaving I really should have but I wanted to look around for a minute there's a

kind of odd curiosity that comes with seeing a place like this you start wondering why everyone left what happened sometimes you just want to find a clue about the past the sun dipped below the Horizon and the sky turned a dull red I walked around the block passing crumbling storefronts old signs on the ground and piles of Broken Bricks everything was silent except for a light Breeze that kicked up dust I checked one building pushing the door open inside there was an empty space with a few overturned chairs and tables it looked like it had

been a small town office or maybe a shop there wasn't much to see I stepped back outside feeling a chill as the temperature dropped I remember the first strange moment came when I noticed a faint glow from a window across the street it was soft kind of like a lamp in another room but I couldn't see the source my heart thumped a little faster the had told me nobody lived there I walked closer to get a better look the window was too dirty for me to see inside I leaned in pressed my face against the

glass and tried to Shield my eyes from the remaining sunlight I saw a shape move it was just a shadow a silhouette it passed by quickly but it was definitely humanized I immediately knocked on the door it rattled but didn't open I waited feeling the hairs on the back of my neck stand up no one answered Ed I tried the handle locked I walked around to the side alley stepping over random debris no door there just boarded up Windows that's when I noticed more lights turning on in other houses further down the street it wasn't

bright like City Lights just a dim glow that barely showed behind curtains or boarded Windows it looked like an entire neighborhood coming to life after dark but I didn't hear any voices or see anyone outside I felt uneasy easy my gut told me to get back in my car and leave but my curiosity started to take over I wanted an explanation maybe squatters lived there maybe there was a small community the internet didn't know about my mind ran through all kinds of possibilities but none felt right it didn't look like people trying to keep warm

with flashlights or lanterns it looked more organized like each house had its own faint light I decided to keep exploring I walked down the main road passing houses with peeling paint and broken fences the sun was gone now and I needed my flashlight to see where I was stepping every few seconds I'd check a window sometimes I'd see a flicker of movement inside sometimes I'd just see a faint glow my mouth went dry and my Palms got sweaty I kept looking over my shoulder expecting someone to jump out nothing happened when I got close to

a small two-story house I heard something like footstep steps inside it was a slow rhythmic sound I pressed my ear against the front door holding my breath the footsteps stopped I stepped back my heart hammering in my chest I wanted to call out but my voice caught in my throat I walked around the side careful not to make noise there was a window that wasn't fully boarded I stood on my toes and peaked in a figure moved across the room I could only see it in profile it looked like a man wearing an old jacket

but the details were tough to make out in the dim light he seemed to be pacing then he disappeared into another room I tried to see where he went but the angle was bad I swallowed hard feeling my heartbeat pounding in my ears I decided to knock on the side of the house I wrapped on the wood with my Knuckles hello I said in a low voice no response I felt a wave of panic surged through me every Instinct said to leave but I took a step back to re-evaluate I told myself maybe they just

didn't want to talk maybe they were scared of strangers but why would they hide in a place the whole world thought was abandoned I took a deep breath and moved on my mind was racing but I tried to stay calm and gather as many details as I could as I walked further I noticed my legs shaking a bit the Dust under my boots kept crunching and every time I heard that sound I got more jumpy I kept glancing to my left and right feeling watched lights were glowing behind Windows all along the block now it

gave me this suffocating feeling like I'd stepped into another version of reality where everything looked the same but felt wrong my stomach tightened and my throat felt scratchy my mind jumped to the thought who are these people are they even people I tried to open a few more doors most were locked or jammed I found one that opened into a hallway full of overturned Furniture I stepped inside shining my flashlight around the floor creaked under me and I caught a whiff of mildew the wallpaper was peeling and the ceiling had water damage I could hear

a faint hum from somewhere deeper in the house like an electrical Buzz I followed the sound until I reached a small living room area in the corner there was a Dusty te TV on a stand the screen glowed faintly but there was nothing on it just static the hum was coming from that TV like it was on but not getting a signal my skin prickled at the sight of it I walked up and pressed the power button the screen went dark and the hum disappeared I exhaled realizing I'd been holding my breath who turned that

on and why I felt like I was trespassing in someone's home so I decided to get out of there I turned to leave but then I heard a scraping sound from the second floor it was soft but deliberate I froze my flashlight shaking in my grip I called out is someone here no answer I took a step toward the stairs but something in me screamed not to go up my arms felt heavy my heart thumped hard enough to make my chest hurt I forced myself to turn around and walk away I left the house pulling

the door shut behind me back on the street the lights in the neighboring houses seemed brighter like they were reacting to my presence each window had a glow and each glow felt like a pair of eyes on me I wiped sweat from my forehead and my hand came away damp I decided to return to my car and drive off but when I got near the diner where ID parked I noticed more lights had turned on inside that Diner as well I pressed my face to the glass door the interior was a mess of broken booths

but a single overhead light flickered in the kitchen I could hear it buzzing I stepped inside carefully my boots crunching on scattered debris the smell was old cooking oil and mold I passed by the counter noticing a half rotted menu lying on the floor the letters were faded and the pictures of food looked decades old behind the counter was a small hallway that led to the kitchen the flicker was coming from there I moved slowly my breath catching in my throat the floor was sticky with who knows what I reached the kitchen doorway and saw

the overhead florescent bulb flickering on and off the entire kitchen was empty except for a few old appliances at first I relaxed a bit thinking there was nothing there then I spotted a shape in the corner it was a person crouched by the sink their clothes were dark maybe just Dusty I couldn't see the face clearly but I could hear some soft breathing I tensed up gripping my flashlight like a weapon hello I managed to say the figure jerked upright and ran toward the back door in a sudden rush I jumped back my heart slamming

in my chest the person forced the back door open and disappeared outside I just stood there trying to catch my breath that was the first time I definitely seen someone up close and they looked real no weird distortions no ghostly outlines it was a living breathing person but they didn't speak or show their face I left the diner and scanned the alley behind it nothing I felt alone again the fear in my stomach Twisted tighter I started to wonder if maybe I was in real danger if someone wanted to harm me it would be easy

out there there were too many corners too many Shadows the streets felt hostile the houses loomed over me like silent Watchers my eyes were getting tired but I kept checking every window every door for signs of movement I couldn't take it anymore I decided to leave I walked briskly to my car trying not to break into a run my hand shook as I reached for the door handle that's when I noticed footprints in the dust near the driver's side door they weren't mine they were smaller maybe from someone wearing sneakers they let around the car

then disappeared my ears pounded with my pulse I yanked my car door open and jumped in I locked the door started the engine and looked around the street was still empty except for the glow from the windows I put the car in reverse and pulled away from the curb as I drove through the Main Street every house I passed had that faint light I caught glimpses of Shadows through Windows some passing by quickly some standing still I didn't roll down my window I didn't slow down I just wanted out the entire time time my brain

kept cycling through questions who lived there why hide why not say anything once I reached the edge of town the light started fading in my rear view mirror I felt a sense of relief my body still shook with adrenaline when I hit the highway I let out a long sigh and realized how tense my muscles were my phone lit up with better reception I tried searching for more information about that town but all I found were the same notes that it had been abandoned decades ago no mention of squatters no mention of restoration efforts I

ended up driving another hour to a roadside Motel where I checked in my hands were unsteady as I filled out the form the guy at the front desk asked if I was okay I just nodded in my room I couldn't sleep every time I closed my eyes I saw that silent figure in the diner's kitchen or the Silhouettes Crossing behind grimy windows I felt an urge to turn around and go back back but my fear kept me in place I stayed up all night scrolling through any obscure Forum or article I could find everything said

the same thing the town was abandoned due to economic collapse or some environmental hazard the official record stopped decades ago no updates no reports of anyone moving back yet I saw those lights and I heard those footsteps I even came face to face with that person in the diner I knew I wasn't imagining it that's why it's been on my mind non-stop I can't accept not knowing my skin crawls when I think about that place lighting up at night with all those silent people I don't know if they're survivors squatters or something else but I

can't shake the feeling they were aware of me tracking my movements watching me pass by waiting for me to leave it's got me on edge sometimes I hear that buzzing sound from the TV in my dreams sometimes I wake up in a sweat sure that someone is standing outside my window I can't let it go I've already started planning another trip out there I need to figure out what's happening every bone in my body says it's a mistake but every thought in my head screams that I can't rest until I get answers next time I'll

bring more supplies I'll bring better lighting I might try to find a way into those houses without causing a scene I want to see them up close and maybe talk to whoever's inside if there's a whole community living in secret I need to understand why and if it's something else something I can't explain with normal logic then I need to witness it firsthand I know it sounds crazy I know it's not safe but that place got under my skin it's all I think about now I can't move on with my life until I solve this

I keep remembering how the lights turned on one by one as if they were responding to the darkness or my presence I remember how the Silhouettes moved slow and deliberate always just out of sight I remember how that person in the diner bolted away before I could say anything else there was no fear in their posture more like annoyance that I'd caught them off guard that's the image that sticks with me someone crouching in a corner waiting for me to pass I'm not sure what I'll do if I actually meet them face to face and

they decide they don't want me around but I can't keep wondering I'd rather face the truth even if it's bizarre than keep pick in those glowing windows and unanswered questions the only way to find out what's really going on is to go back and that's exactly what I plan to do I'll never forget that night it was supposed to be a simple final check in an old deserted subway station the kind of job nobody wants to do but someone has to the the place had been closed off for years and most of the staff stayed

clear of it unless they were assigned a routine inspection I'd done this kind of round before though never in a station that felt so isolated I'd heard stories from co-workers about strange noises or flickering lights but I always figured people see what they want to see in the dark I'm pretty levelheaded and I like to get my job done without any fuss but that night I discovered that some stations hold more than just Echoes and dust I arrived at the entrance around midnight the security gate was down and I used a special key to let

myself in my supervisor had told me just do a quick sweep make sure there's no broken glass no graffiti no sign of squatters he said it like it was no big deal I remember the faint hum of the overhead lights in the corridor just before the main stairs the electricity was still running there for some reason though the rest of the station was mostly dark I flicked on my flashlight and stepped onto the first step it creaked a little and I noticed my own footsteps echoing in the concrete space everything seemed normal just a bunch

of stale air and grime as I descended the corridor opened up into the main platform area it smelled damp like water had seeped through the cracks the floor was made of old tiles chipped in some places and the walls were covered in those dull white ceramic squares that reflect a bit of light my flashlight beam moved across the floor then up along the walls I glanced around and saw the usual stuff a few torn posters a broken vending machine in a corner and some scattered trash that was probably older than me the place felt dead

but not in a peaceful way more like an unease that hangs in the air I heard a distant drip of water and it echoed so much it sounded like someone tapping I shined my flashlight around trying to locate the source of the dripping then I saw a faint glimmer on the wall it was just my own reflection in one of the tiles but something about it made me pause I noticed it wasn't a single tile reflecting me it was like a patch of tiles showing a partial reflection almost like a distorted mirror I shifted my

flashlight slightly and my reflection moved I tilted my head and it did the same I Shrugged it off thinking it was just a weird angle I kept walking my footsteps scraped against dirt on on the ground and I stopped every now and then to check for cracks in the floor my job was to note any structural damage or hazards the station had been out of service for years so I half expected to find some major problems but other than the obvious neglect it all seemed stable enough I jotted down a few notes on a clipboard

broken tile near stairway graffiti in the second Corridor water leakage near the far end of the platform it was straightforward stuff every so often I'd look up and catch my reflection again but then I started noticing something odd sometimes it looked like there was more than one reflection I'd see a shape that might have been a shoulder or a head in the corner of my eye always on the tile but when I'd turn my flashlight directly at it I'd see nothing but the empty Corridor or platform I told myself I was just tired late shifts

can do that to a person especially in a gloomy place like that my stomach felt a little queasy and I tried to steady my breathing I made my way toward the far end of the platform the old tracks were still there rusted and full of debris I shined my flashlight down the tunnel but all I could see was darkness and a few scattered bits of rubble the air was heavy and thick and it smelled like damp metal I checked my watch 12:20 a.m. I planed to be out of there by wi at the latest there

was no reason to stick around any longer than necessary as I started back along the platform I heard a faint scrape it was like a shoe brushing against the floor my heart jumped and I froze for a second I listened but the noise didn't repeat I told myself it was probably a rat or a piece of debris shifting still I felt my pulse speed up I did a quick 360 with my flashlight nothing just the same old abandon station covered in dust and darkness I kept moving but now I was on edge I heard my

own breath short and uneven my Palms felt sweaty and I wiped one against my pant leg I scanned the walls as I walked I saw the same Reflections as before except now I was sure I caught the outline of what looked like a person it was just for an instant there on the tile as though someone was standing on the other side of the station but when I swung my flashlight to that exact spot thought there was nothing I forced a laugh but it came out shaky I reached the station's waiting area the benches were

old wood and some were broken a few old newspapers lay scattered their Pages Yellow and brittle I stepped closer to one and read the headline something about a mayor's election from years ago nothing important I turned around and my flashlight landed on the wall that's when I saw a clearer reflection like a silhouette of a Head and Shoulders it was on the tiles but I was standing too far away for it to be me it was just there like someone was standing behind me my heart pounded so hard I felt it in my throat I

spun around aiming my flashlight behind me empty then I turned back to the wall the silhouette was gone I felt my legs start to shake a little I tried to calm myself thinking maybe the reflection was some trick of the light or a piece of debris on the tile surface still I wanted to finish quickly my notes were almost complete I just needed to double check the stairwell on the other side I headed toward that stairwell trying not to think about the shapes I kept seeing each step felt heavier than the last I turned down

a narrow Corridor that connected one platform to another the overhead lights here were either off or completely dead so my flashlight was the only source of Illumination the tile walls in this Corridor were ryy and I could see mold growing in the corners about halfway through the corridor I caught movement in the corner of my eye I stopped my chest got tight and I directed my flashlight onto the wall I saw a reflection that looked exactly like a person's profile it had a defined chin nose and I could make out the curve of a shoulder

I stood there breathing hard the reflection shifted slightly as though it was looking right at me I swallowed my mouth felt dry as sand I stepped forward and the reflection seemed to step forward too but it was on the wall moving in sync with me I lifted my arm and saw the shape lift an arm as well my pulse was racing and I felt a cold sweat on my forehead I thought this is insane there's no one here this can't be real I waved my flashlight across the wall and for a second the reflection flickered

then it settled back into the same shape but now it wasn't quite matching my movements I hurried down the corridor refusing to look at the walls my boots clicked on the tile floor and my breath echoed when I finally reached the next set of stairs I stopped to catch my breath my heart thudded in my ears I forced myself to look at the wall again just to prove to myself there was nothing there this time all I saw was my own reflection I exhaled trying to slow my pulse I climbed the stairs at the top

there was a small entrance to a side platform that had been closed off for even longer than the main area the signage was faded and the gate that led to the street was locked I checked the chain tugging on it to confirm it was still secure that's when I heard footsteps behind me they were faint but unmistakable soft thuds on the tile I whipped around shining my flashlight empty but I could still hear The Echoes of those steps in my head I decided I'd had enough I'd noted all the issues I didn't care about checking

every single Corner anymore I just wanted out I turned to head back but now the corridor seemed darker than before my flashlight felt weaker or maybe my eyes were playing tricks on me I walked quickly trying not to slip on The Damp floor as I moved I heard more footstep sounds they seemed to come from behind me and then from the side it was like there were multiple people in there all walking at the same Pace I kept whipping my head around aiming my flashlight but I saw nothing in the darkness my heart hammered in

my chest my mouth felt stale and my hands were shaking so badly that the flashlight beam trembled across the walls then I saw them or at least I saw their Reflections there were several shapes on the tiles all shaped like people they weren't transparent or ghostly they looked like black Silhouettes they moved in the glossy surface as if they were stepping closer to me each time I took a step back the reflection seemed to advance my chest got tight and I felt my face grow hot I backed away aiming my flashlight at the floor to

avoid looking at those shapes but they were on the floor too on the wet spots where the tiles were shinier I started half running half walking not even sure where I was going my boots slipped on something and I had to brace myself against the wall when I did I felt the cold tile under my palm and I swear it felt like something brushed against my hand from the other side of that wall I yanked my hand back and nearly dropped my flashlight I forced myself to keep going my breaths ragged and fast the station

began to feel like a maze the corridors and stairwells all looked the same I knew I had come from the main platform side but every direction seemed equally dark my flashlights beam flickered once and I panicked thinking the batteries were dying I shook it a little and the light steadied the reflections kept appearing on every nearby surface some were closer some were further away but they were always there like I was surrounded eventually I spotted the main stairwell that led up to the entrance gate I felt a surge of relief I hurried toward it trying

not to trip on the broken tiles my breath was coming in shallow gasps and my legs felt Stiff The Echoes of footsteps seemed even louder like a group of people marching I forced myself not to look back when I got to the stairs I glanced at the wall to my right there was a big panel of tiles and I saw maybe four or five of these Silhouettes reflected there they were spaced out but all were facing me my chest felt like it was going to explode my mind was racing with questions but I didn't have

time to think about answers I just wanted to leave I took the stairs two at a time gripping the handrail so hard my Knuckles hurt at the top I reached the security gate I fumbled with the key my hand shaking so much that I dropped it on the floor I crouched to pick it up and that's when I saw the reflection in the metal of the gate itself the Silhouettes were at the bottom of the stairs moving toward me I heard a faint scraping sound like dozens of feet shuffling my hands felt numb and I

could barely control my fingers as I pushed the key into the lock I turned it and the gate slid open with a squeal that echoed in the silence I rushed through and slammed it shut behind me locking it again my breath was ragged and I pressed my forehead against the cool metal for a moment trying to steady myself then I forced myself to look back the corridor was dark and my flashlight beam barely reached the top of the stairs I saw no movement now no Reflections on the walls it was just darkness I let out

a shaky exhale my heart was still racing and my clothes felt damp with sweat I stepped away from the gate moving toward the exit that led to the surface the overhead light in that small entrance area was still buzzing casting a weak glow I wanted to run but my legs felt like lead I moved as fast as I could each step echoing finally I made it to the street level door I shoved it open and felt a rush of cool night air I inhaled it like it was the first real breath I'd taken all night

outside the street lights were on and the City looked calm I stood there for a moment hunched over trying to catch my breath my entire body trembled and my throat felt tight I glanced back at the door half expecting those Silhouettes to appear in the glass but nothing was there I didn't see a single shape following me I walked to my truck got in and locked the doors my hands were shaking so bad that I couldn't get the key in the ignition at first when the engine finally started I sat there with the headlights on

off staring at the station entrance it looked normal from the outside just a locked door with a warning sign about unauthorized access a few minutes passed before I felt calm enough to drive away my shirt was clinging to my back with sweat and I kept feeling like someone was in the passenger seat watching me but I was alone when I got back to the depot I handed my supervisor the clipboard without a word he looked at me funny probably because I was still shaky and pale he started to ask something but I mumbled something about

not feeling well and headed out I spent the rest of the night trying to process what happened I couldn't figure it out part of me wanted to believe it was just my nerves the flicker of my flashlight and some random Illusions caused by reflective tiles but it felt too real the shapes moved in ways I couldn't explain I heard footsteps that shouldn't have been there I never asked for another shift at that station in fact I made a point to avoid it I told my supervisor I'd handle any other job but not that one I

didn't care if it cost me a bit of overtime or if I lost some points with the higher ups I wasn't going back I still wonder what I saw that night I know that place is abandoned and no one has been stationed there for a long time yet I saw Reflections that didn't match my body I heard footsteps and felt the presence of multiple figures in the darkness I don't talk about it much because because I don't have any fancy explanation all I know is that I wasn't alone in that station even though nobody else

was physically there and that's enough for me to stay away I can still picture those Silhouettes whenever I close my eyes the way they seemed to converge toward me like they had a purpose the memory makes my chest tighten and I sometimes wake up in the middle of the night expecting to see them in the corners of my bedroom but they're not there I only ever saw them in that station on those grimy White Tiles that's the story it's direct and it's all I have I was just a regular Subway worker doing my job but

something else was in that station with me they never touched me or spoke to me and I didn't see anyone die or anything like that but I felt cornered and I felt terrified in a way I've never been before I can't explain it and I'm not going back to figure it out if someone else wants to do the inspection next time they can I'm done I still remember the first night I heard the phone ring it was a little before midnight and I was at the front desk of the old commercial building where I work

my name is Marcus I'm a doorman on the night shift and I've been here for years usually nothing happens after 9 B p.m. most offices close around 6 Mar and a few cleaning crews stick around until maybe 8 cows then it's just me and a couple of security cameras by midnight even the lights in the hallways go dim to save energy the place feels empty and quiet and I've grown used to that but that night something changed I was sitting in the lobby leaning back in the old swivel chair behind the reception desk the small

TV in front of me was muted showing some late night show I wasn't really watching I had one earbud in listening to some talk radio trying to stay awake right then the old intercom phone on the desk rang the noise made me jump it wasn't a normal ring it made a dull buzzing sound I glanced at the clock on the wall exactly midnight I picked up the receiver and said Lobby my voice came out shaky because that phone rarely Rings after 10 RPM let alone right at midnight there was a pause maybe 3 or 4

seconds and then a man's voice said I need to deliver something to you it's yours you lost it a long time ago I felt a chill run through my arms his tone was flat and calm like he was sure I knew what he meant but I didn't I had no idea what he was talking about I tried to clear my throat what do you mean I asked who is this Which floor are you on another pause then he said come up I'm on your floor and then he hung up I stood there holding the phone

against my ear I heard static and then the dial tone I looked at the phone's little display it said the call came from the 13th floor but this building only has 12 floors I stared at the screen confused and then I put the phone down my heart was pounding and my mouth felt dry I glanced around the lobby the lights near the entrance were still on and I could see my reflection in the glass doors my uniform looked a bit wrinkled and I noticed a beat of sweat on my forehead usually the building is so

quiet at this hour that I can hear the hum of the ceiling fans that night I heard a faint ringing in my ears like my body was reacting to something I couldn't explain I stepped out from behind the desk and walked toward the elevator Banks I pressed the call button nothing unusual happened the elevator arrived doors slid open and I stepped inside the overhead light was flickering a bit that sometimes happens because the building is old I looked at the panel of buttons they were labeled from 1 to 12 plus a basement level there was

no 13 which didn't surprise me most older buildings skipped that number I pressed 12 the elevator felt slow as it went up the building is tall enough that I usually sense a shift in my stomach around the sixth floor but this time I just felt tense when the the doors opened I stepped out into the 12th floor hallway the lights were dim and the corridor was empty the offices on this floor are for a small insurance company but they close early the doors were all locked and the place smelled like stale air I checked the

entire floor trying each door handle all locked no lights on in the offices no one there I got back into the elevator I thought about trying the basement maybe someone was messing around with the phone lines there so I pressed B and the elevator went down when I arrived I looked around the storage areas I saw a few empty boxes and old cleaning supplies but nothing else the phone on the wall there was covered in dust it didn't look like it had been used in years I ran my fingers over it then picked it up

and listened just a normal dial tone I set it back and went upstairs to the lobby again the rest of my shift was quiet but I couldn't shake that uneasy feeling the next night things were normal until midnight then the same phone on the reception desk buzzed again I looked at the display 13 flickered on the screen my heart started beating faster I picked up the receiver and said hello the same voice answered sounding calm and direct Marcus come up I have something for you you lost it I asked what did I lose he stayed

silent for a few seconds then he said you'll see come to my floor I almost yelled into the phone there is no 13th floor then the call ended this time I didn't try to investigate I just stayed at the desk my Palms felt sweaty I tapped my foot against the tile floor trying to shake off the nerves every now and then I looked up toward the elevator but nothing happened I checked the security cameras the feed showed empty hallways on all 12 Floors Plus the basement no movement I felt something like a nod in my

stomach I wanted to go home but my shift wasn't over so I just sat there waiting by 6: a.m. everything was normal again and the first employees began to arrive I went home and tried to sleep but I kept thinking about that voice over the next couple of days I tried talking to the building manager about the phone lines he just Shrugged and said the internal system was old and sometimes calls got misrouted I asked if there was ever a 13th floor in the building's history he said he didn't know the building was built a

long time ago and the original documentation might be incomplete he suggested maybe the phone labeling was glitching out but that didn't explain how the voice knew my name and claimed to have something I lost I spent my shifts feeling on edge I checked the phone lines the cameras even walked the floors before midnight nothing strange happened until exactly 12: a.m. then then the phone would ring and the display would say 13 always the same voice always the same request Marcus I have something for you it's something you lost a long time ago come up I

asked who he was but he never answered he'd just say you know me then he'd hang up one night after a week of these calls I decided to go upstairs again just to get it over with when the clock in the lobby hit midnight I waited for the phone to ring I answer answered it the same voice said I'm waiting elevator open I felt my pulse Quicken the line went dead I set the receiver down and walked to the elevator its doors were already open and the interior light was flickering it shouldn't do that on

its own I stepped inside the panel still showed floors 1 through 12 and the basement but as I stood there I saw a small glow near the space between 12 and 14 there was no 14 obviously but the number 13 looked faint as if it was hidden behind the metal I pressed that spot at first nothing happened then the elevator doors slid shut I felt the elevator moving up but it moved slower than normal my hands were shaking a bit I tried to steady my breathing I watched the floor numbers on the panel they went

10 11 12 then nothing the elevator kept moving but no numbers lit up I heard the cables groan then it stopped with a jolt the doors opened onto a hallway I had never seen before the lights were dim and the walls looked worn like they hadn't been painted in decades the floor had old stained carpet a faint smell of mold lingered in the air it felt cold and I sensed a breeze like a window was open somewhere but there were no windows in sight I stepped out carefully leaving one foot inside the elevator I looked

around there were three doors on this hallway two on the left one on the right all had chipped paint and old name plates but the letters were too faded to read I heard nothing except my own breathing my heart was pounding so loud that I could feel my pulse and my ears I forced myself to take a few steps forward the elevator doors slid shut behind me and I spun around but there was no button on the outside to call it back my throat felt tight I approached the first door on the left it had

a grimy door knob I tried it but it was locked I knocked softly no answer then I moved to the second door on the left same thing locked the door on the right looked slightly a jar I heard a faint buzzing sound from inside like an old fluorescent light about to burn out my Palms were damp as I touched the door and pushed it open inside I saw an empty room with cracked walls and a bare concrete floor a single overhead light flickered there was a wooden table in the center and on it a small

metal box it was maybe 6 in wide with a simple latch on the front I hesitated I didn't see anyone in the room but I felt like someone was watching me the hairs on my arm stood up I approached the table my breath felt shallow I reached out unlatched the box and opened it inside I saw a ring it was a plain silver band of a bit tarnished I recognized it right away it was the ring my ex-wife gave me when we were still married I lost it years ago I looked at it closely noticing

a small scratch on the inside I remembered the day I dropped it in a parking lot and never found it again yet here it was I felt my stomach twist I grabbed the ring and held it in my hand it felt cold I looked around hoping to see someone but the room was empty then I heard a phone ring from behind me I turned around and saw an old desk phone on the floor in the corner I hadn't noticed it when I walked in it was black with a rotary dial covered in dust it rang

again and I felt a jolt of adrenaline shoot through my chest I walked over and picked it up before I could say anything I heard the same man's voice that's yours don't lose it again I cleared my throat and forced myself to speak who are you I asked asked my voice shook he just said you know me and then I heard a click the line went dead I put the handset back on the cradle and stood there for a moment heart hammering in my chest I decided I needed to leave I walked back to the

door stepped into the hallway and looked for the elevator I didn't see it the wall looked empty I touched the spot where the elevator doors had been but all I felt was a cold hard surface my hands started shaking again I took a few steps forward checking the other doors but they were still locked suddenly I heard the elevator chime behind me I spun around and saw that the doors were there again they slid open revealing the flickering light inside I rushed in pressing the button that said Lobby the doors closed and the elevator jerked

downward this ride felt faster my stomach lurched and I grabbed the handrail about 10 seconds later the doors opened to The Familiar Lobby I stumbled out everything looked normal the clock on the wall said 12:05 a.m. it felt like I'd been gone longer but it was only 5 minutes past midnight I stood there Breathing heavily holding the ring in my left hand my shirt was damp with sweat I looked around and noticed the lobby was empty the front doors were locked as usual outside the street lights cast a dull glow on the sidewalk I walked

back to the reception reception desk set the ring on the counter and stared at it I felt relief but also confusion I kept asking myself how this was possible I didn't come up with any answers for the rest of the night I sat there waiting to see if anything else would happen the phone didn't ring Again by the time my shift ended I was drained my legs felt weak I went home as soon as the morning doorman arrived I tried to sleep but I couldn't stop replaying everything in my head the next night at work

I waited for the call but midnight passed and the phone stayed silent the same thing happened the night after it never rang again from that 13th floor I checked the elevator panel the hidden button was gone there was no faint glow this time it looked perfectly normal I even pressed on the spot between 12 and the basement button but nothing happened everything looked the way it always did I keep the ring in my pocket now I hold it sometimes just to remind myself it's real the building manager has no explanation he says the phone system

might have had a technical anomaly but nobody else got calls from that extension nobody else saw that floor and I know I didn't imagine it it felt too real I remember the smell of the hallway the flickering light the cold metal box and the tension in my chest I remember the sound of that man's voice telling me not to lose the ring again I still work here I still do the night shift every time the phone rings after midnight I feel my chest tighten but it's always a tenant who stayed late or someone trying to

reach security no more calls from a non-existent floor no more strange voices but sometimes around midnight I catch myself staring at the elevator I watch the lights on the panel and wonder if it might move on its own part of me wants it to happen again to get some kind of answer another part of of me never wants to see that place again I don't like feeling that Rush of cold fear in my spine I can't explain how that man got my ring or what that floor was all I know is that I went there

I saw it and I held something I lost years ago the memory of that night feels sharp in my mind there's no comforting explanation but I do my job the same way I always have I check the lobby I answer calls I make my rounds and at midnight I wait sometimes the phone stays quiet and sometimes a regular call comes through from a real floor but I'll never forget those nights when the call came from the 13th floor telling me to come up and get back what I lost I don't expect it to happen again

but I'm always ready just in case and I'll never let go of that ring again I feel the weight of the old key in my hand as I stand at the front gate it's late afternoon and there's a silence around this property that makes the back of my neck tense I inherited this place from a relative I never met I only got a short letter in the mail telling me I was the last living person in our line who could take possession I didn't feel excited at first it felt more like an inconvenience but then

I arrived and saw the house up close its chipped paint and bowed porch boards told me it was old but it didn't look like it was about to collapse it had a strong frame tall windows and a large front door with a tarnished handle something about it felt important like it was waiting for me I stepped onto the porch unlocked the door and walked inside the smell of dust and stale air hit me first I coughed a few times and looked around the front room had a worn out couch a small wooden table and some

scattered chairs I set my bag on the table and walked through the house flipping on light switches most of them worked but the dim bulbs did little to brighten the space wood floors creaked under my feet every time I opened a door I expected something to jump out at me nothing did but I couldn't shake the uneasy feeling in my stomach I moved from room to room checking the condition of each one the kitchen had an ancient refrigerator in a stove from maybe the 1950s I tested the faucet and water sputtered out in bursts before

finally flowing in a steady stream it didn't smell bad so I figured the well system still worked somehow I opened a small closet near the back door and found a few old coats on wooden hangers one coat had a broken zipper and the other had a large tear at the shoulder I felt like these items had been waiting in the dark for years I found the bedroom on the first floor it had a large bed a dresser with a cracked mirror and a Dusty rug I tapped my foot on the rug and saw the dust

rise in a cloud as I lifted the rug to shake it out I noticed a heavy trap door in the floor it looked sturdy with large iron hinges and a thick handle my heart thumped a little harder I pulled on the handle but it wouldn't budge I tried again using both hands and putting my weight into it nothing I crouched down and saw a heavy padlock attached to a loop on the side of the trapo it was an old padlock rusted but it looked solid that was the first time I felt a chill the air

in the room seemed to drop a few degrees and I sensed a pressure in my chest I stood back up took a few deep breaths and tried to shake off the feeling but I kept looking at that trap door I knew it led to a basement or a Cellar it had to for some reason it felt different than just an ordinary locked door I decided to explore the rest of the house before coming back to the trapo upstairs I found three more rooms one was empty except for a single wooden chair in the corner another

was packed with boxes of old books newspapers and magazines the third had an iron bed frame and a small dresser none of the rooms had that same strange Aura as the bedroom with the trapo still my mind kept drifting back to it as the sun started to go down I realized I hadn't eaten all day I dug through my bag and found a couple of protein bars I walked around to the back porch and stepped outside to get some fresh air the porch overlooked a small field with tall grass and beyond that a line of

trees everything was quiet I heard no birds no rustling in the grass the quiet felt unnatural I swallowed my food without tasting much my mind was stuck on that locked door I went back inside and set up a small cod in the living room near a window the bedroom with the trap door made me uneasy and I didn't want to sleep on that big Dusty bed anyway the living room felt neutral less charged I turned off most of the lights but kept a small lamp on near the couch I lay down exhausted but my eyes

wouldn't stay shut about an hour later I heard a faint scratching sound it was soft at first like something brushing against wood I sat up heart pounding trying to pinpoint the noise it sounded like it came from underneath the floor every little hair on my my arm stood up I got up and walked toward the bedroom with the trapo but the scratching stopped I stood there in the hallway listening but there was only silence my heart was racing and my stomach felt tight I took a step closer to the bedroom door and the door knob

felt cold in my hand I slowly pushed the door open the lamp in the living room cast some light so I could see most of the floor the trap door looked exactly the same locked and silent I waited holding my breath but there was no more scratching I stayed there for a minute or two trying to decide whether to force the lock eventually I decided to leave it for the morning I wasn't ready to deal with it in the dark returning to the couch I tried to sleep again this time I left my shoes on

in case I needed to jump up fast my mind kept picturing the trapo I felt a Twist in my stomach whenever I imagined opening it eventually I drifted into a Restless sleep I woke up multiple times from vague nightmares I couldn't remember each time the house was silent but it felt like it was breathing around me when morning light came through the window my eyes were gritty and my head achd I stretched rubbed my face and decided to find something to eat in town I grabbed my keys locked up and drove down the dirt road

until I found a small Diner the bacon and eggs tasted greasy but the coffee helped clear my head I picked up a few groceries and some tools from the hardware store I got a heavy duty bolt cutter figuring I might need it for that lock my chest felt tight just thinking about it but I had to open that door the Curiosity was too strong back at the house I walked straight to the bedroom my footsteps echoed in the hallway I knelt down by the trap door and inspected the padlock more closely it was thick and

rusted but I could still make out some brand name that I didn't recognize I took a deep breath breath and positioned the bolt cutter around the lock my arms shook a bit as I applied pressure the lock didn't break on the first try I repositioned gritted my teeth and squeezed harder the lock snapped with a sharp crack and I almost lost my balance as soon as the lock broke I felt a sudden Rush of cold air like someone had opened a window but the windows were all closed my chest got that same pressure again and

I exhaled hard to calm myself I set the broken padlock aside and lifted the trap door it was heavier than I expected the hinges squeaked and dust fell into the dark opening below a musty smell drifted up not quite like mold more like old Earth and stale air I Shone a flashlight down a wooden staircase LED Into Darkness the steps looked worn but not rotten I took one careful step down then another keeping the flashlight aimed ahead of me the walls were damp to the touch and the air was thick my heart was thuing so

hard I could feel it in my ears when I reached the bottom I found a small room maybe 10x 10 ft with a low ceiling the walls were rough Stone there was a single table against one wall and some shelves with jars the jars were covered in dust and I couldn't see what was inside without wiping them off I inched closer and wiped a jar with my sleeve it looked like dried herbs or leaves another jar had a liquid that had turned dark over time a shiver ran through my spine and the hair on my

arm stood up again near the table I saw a wooden box it had iron corners and a latch the lid was carved with some kind of symbol like three circles overlapping it wasn't a symbol I recognized my hands felt sweaty as I touched the latch it wasn't locked I lifted the lid and looked inside there were some old letters and a small metal object wrapped in cloth I wrapped it and found what looked like a small bell with strange markings I felt a chill holding it like it was unnaturally cold then I heard a loud

thump from above like a door slamming I froze eyes fixed on the staircase my heart was pounding in my throat I half expected someone to come rushing down but there was only silence I took the letters and the metal bell placed them in my jacket pocket and headed back up I could feel my legs trembling on the steps when I got up to the bedroom I Stood Still For a Moment listening the house was quiet again but it felt heavier I propped the trap door open with a chair so it wouldn't slam shut then I

walked into the living room the front door was closed but the wind outside had kicked up a bit I told myself that must have caused the noise I wasn't sure I believed it my chest felt tight again and my Palms were damp I sat on the couch took out the letters and flipped through them they were written in an oldfashioned style and I could barely read some of the handwriting I caught a few phrases keep it sealed the door must remain locked and do not let anyone open it I felt my stomach twist whoever wrote

these letters seemed convinced there was something dangerous below my throat felt dry and my eyes started to ache from straining at the messy text the letters didn't mention what was in the basement just warnings lots of warnings I took out the small bell again I held it in my hand and turned it over there were tiny etchings on the sides shapes that reminded me of some old script I'd seen in antique stores I gave it a gentle shake it made a muted dull sound not like a normal Bell it almost sounded like metal on metal

but softer it gave me goosebumps I felt sure it was connected to the locked basement in some way over the next few hours I tried to focus on cleaning up the house I swept floors opened some windows to let in fresh air and wiped off surfaces but my mind kept returning to the basement and the items I found each time I thought about them my stomach got that uneasy twist I kept hearing faint noises like scratching or tapping under the floor but every time I paused and listened carefully it would stop that night I decided

to sleep in the same spot on the couch I closed the trap door again and dragged the couch so I could see the bedroom door from where I lay I wasn't sure what I expected to happen but I wanted to be ready I stayed awake a long time my heart racing every time I heard a noise even if it was just the wind eventually I drifted off sometime later I shot awake a loud thud echoed from the bedroom my pulse skyrocketed and I jumped to my feet the living room lamp was still on the clock

on the wall showed it was a little after 2: in the morning my mouth felt dry as I I crept down the hall flashlight in hand to the bedroom door I paused listening I heard scraping like something hard dragging across the wooden floor I turned the knob and pushed the door open the trap door was open I was sure I had closed it before lying down now it was raised just enough for me to see the black Gap underneath my chest felt like someone was pressing on it with both hands I stepped into the room

aiming my flashlight at the trapo the beam showed the first few steps going going down I couldn't see anything else I stood there breathing fast my skin damp with sweat the scraping noise had stopped everything was still then the trap door slammed shut on its own causing me to jump back and almost Dro My Flashlight the force of it made dust float up from the floor I backed out of the room breathing hard and shut the bedroom door my mind was racing I felt like I was going to pass out I pulled myself together enough

to move a chair to block the bedroom door then I paced around the living room trying to make sense of this my arms were shaking and my shirt was soaked with sweat I wanted to leave the house but something kept me there I couldn't just drive away and pretend this wasn't happening for the rest of the night I sat on the couch shining my flashlight at the hallway I didn't hear any more noises the air felt thick and cold but I forced myself to breathe Slowly by the time Dawn came my head was pounding and

I was dehydrated I kept thinking about the letters and the warnings it was clear that whatever was locked down there had been sealed away for a reason when the Sun finally Rose I got up moved the chair away from the bedroom door and peaked inside the trap door was closed I entered carefully half expecting something to jump out the door on the floor was still shut tight I didn't try to open it again instead I grabbed my bag stuffed the letters and the bell inside and walked out of that bedroom my heart was racing and

I just wanted to get away from that padlock and the cold air that seemed to linger around it I made my way to the front door and stepped outside the early morning light felt like a relief I inhaled the cool air tasting the hint of dew on the wind I locked the front door behind me out of habit but I knew that wouldn't stop anything I stood on the porch my hands in my Pockets feeling the weight of the strange Bell pressing against my thigh I didn't know if I should call someone or just leave

for good my chest still hurt and my stomach churned I couldn't ignore the tension I felt in my body even out here away from the trapo I felt like something was watching me from behind the walls I looked back at the house noticing how the windows almost looked like dark eyes the place was mine now whether I wanted it or not but I knew I couldn't stay in that house alone again not after what I'd seen and heard I decided to step down off the porch and walk around the property for a bit to clear

my head I ended up pacing around the field behind the house focusing on the crunch of gravel under my boots and the rustle of the Tall Grass against my jeans every time I glanced back at the house I felt a tightness in my chest my mind was stuck on the basement I kept recalling the scraping noises the cold Rush of air and that door slam slamming shut I wanted to forget it but I knew I couldn't something was in there and it wanted out I finally headed to my truck climbed in and sat behind the

wheel for a long time my hands were shaking and I gripped the steering wheel until my Knuckles turned white I wanted to believe that maybe I had imagined it all maybe I was just too tired too stressed but the broken padlock the letters in my bag and the memory of that door slamming wouldn't let me kid myself I told myself I come back later with help or maybe I'd call someone who knows about old houses and weird old basements but for now I needed to get away I started the engine and drove off watching the

house grow smaller in my rear view mirror my heart pounded every time I thought about what might still be under that floor the tightness in my chest stayed with me and I couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning I was leaving for now but I knew deep down that I would have to deal with whatever was locked in that basement I just hoped I could handle it when the time came I felt a tightness in my chest the moment I stepped out of the car the air was wet and smelled like old

wood and damp leaves my friend's cabin sat at the very edge of a steep Trail surrounded by towering Pines that looked almost black against the late afternoon Sky when I looked at the peak above us I saw swirling clouds of fog drifting in slow circles I tried to remind myself I was here to relax but my stomach churned I told myself I was just tired from the long drive but something about that mountain unsettled me my friend his name is Rob walked up and slapped me on the back telling me to come inside before the

fog got thicker I followed him in without a word the cabin had a narrow front porch old planks that creaked under our feet inside the place was cramped small living room Tiny Kitchen single bathroom and two bedrooms Rob said he'd been spending most weekends up here he insisted the views were worth the trip he also claimed the isolation helped him clear his mind I remember looking around at the dusty shelves the flickering overhead light and the thick curtains everything felt stale still I tried to act casual we set my bag in the spare bedroom and

sat down at a worn out table to share a quick meal I noticed the windows looked fogged from the outside even though it wasn't that cold yet Rob told me the fog around here can seep into every crack and I shouldn't worry about it after dinner I went to my room I expected a peaceful night but I couldn't sleep the wind outside had picked up and I heard it whipping through the trees my window was cracked open a little and I could feel a cold draft on my face the cabin's walls groaned when the wind

blew blew hard it was a steady pattern Creek pause groan pause I lay there staring at the ceiling trying to slow my breathing my eyelids started to get heavy around midnight and I drifted off I don't know how long I slept I jolted awake to an odd Chill on my cheeks a hazy white fog floated inside the room I sat up blinking hard trying to make sense of it I could see a shape next to my bed my heart hammered and my mouth went dry it looked like a person they weren't moving I gasped and

for a second I couldn't do anything but stare the shape was dark but I could make out shoulders a head and arms it stayed perfectly still like someone standing guard I wanted to scream but no sound came out my hands Shook and I felt sweat on my forehead even though the air was freezing I fumbled for the lamp on the nightstand and flicked it on in that instant the shape was gone the fog still lingered but I saw nothing else there I sat on the edge of the bed rubbing my eyes my heart pounding so

hard that I felt it in my temples I told myself it was a trick of the light or a half dream maybe the altitude or humidity or something else caused me to see things I forced myself to lie back down I pulled the sheets up to my chin and stared at the dark corners of the room until dawn at breakfast I asked Rob if he ever saw anything strange in the cabin at night he laughed shook his head and said it was all in my head he mentioned altitude sickness dehydration and the way the fog

can play tricks on you I didn't argue but I felt uneasy my hands still trembled a bit and my mouth felt dry Rob gave me a bottle of water and suggested we go for a short hike to clear my thoughts I agreed thinking fresh air might help we set out on a narrow trail that wound through the Pines the path was covered in Fallen needles making our steps soft and muffled the fog drifted around us in patches sometimes rolling across our feet and then lifting higher I tried to focus on the physical effort of walking

my boots pressing into the Earth the slight burn in my calves the sound of Twigs snapping underfoot the wind kept picking up swirling the fog in random directions Rob seemed at ease as if he was used to it but I felt a dull pressure in my chest whenever I looked up at the swirling clouds above the Treetops we treed for about an hour before the path opened into a small clearing from there The View was supposed to be breathtaking I saw only shifting layers of white it looked like we were standing on the edge of

nothingness the wind howled all around but I couldn't see beyond a few feet Rob said we should turn back he joked that we wouldn't see a great view in this weather I nodded but I was distracted Ed by a noise I heard a faint murmur like distant voices I strained my ears trying to pinpoint the direction it sounded like it was coming from somewhere deep in the fog all around us it was too soft to make out words but it had a human quality like a crowd Whispering or mumbling in the distance I told Rob

I heard something he just Shrugged he said the Wind Through the Trees can create weird Echoes especially when the fog is thick I tried to ignore it but as we headed back the whispering turned into a chorus of overlapping cries they weren't loud but they were clear enough to make my hair stand on end I glanced at Rob but he was focused on putting one foot in front of the other my stomach lurched and I broke out in a cold sweat I realized I was walking faster Rob asked if I was okay and I just

nodded I told him I was fine but I felt Panic building in my chest we got back to the cabin and I almost ran into inside my heart was pounding the moment I was indoors I felt some relief the stale smell of the cabin felt safer than the endless fog outside Rob asked if I wanted some coffee and I said yes we sat at the table again he turned on an old radio he kept near the window static crackled and we could barely pick up a signal the faint sound of a distant station came through

talking about a storm front it was all background noise noise to me I kept replaying those voices in my head I couldn't figure out if they were real or just my imagination that afternoon Rob tried to lighten the mood he told me about a small waterfall nearby and asked if I wanted to check it out I mumbled something about needing to rest so he left on his own I was alone in the cabin and the silence weighed on me I stepped outside to get some air the fog had receded a bit around the porch so

I could see the wooden steps and a stretch of Rocky ground I took a deep breath and tried to calm down I could hear a faint dripping sound near the side of the cabin I walked around and saw water trickling from a gutter forming a puddle at the base of a wall the smell of wet Earth Rose around me I heard a branch snap somewhere behind me my pulse spiked I turned around but there was only fog and trees I felt a sensation of being watched my shoulders tensed and I gritted my teeth for a

few seconds I just stood there waiting for something to move when nothing did I walked back inside and locked the door as afternoon shifted into evening the clouds outside got darker Rob returned with a shrug saying the waterfall was just a trickle he asked if I felt better I just Shrugged back he suggested we build a fire in the small fireplace I agreed hoping the warmth and light might help me relax we gathered some logs from the wood wood pile lit them and sat on the couch the fire crackled sending tiny Sparks into the air

we didn't talk much I watched the Flames dance and for a moment I felt almost normal but the fog returned in full force after Sunset it pressed against the windows turning them into glowing rectangles the temperature dropped Rob said good night and headed to his room I stayed near the fire for a while then decided to go to bed bed my bedroom felt colder than before I closed the window all the way even so I saw a thin line of fog creeping under the door my heart beat faster I stuffed a towel at the threshold

hoping to block it my throat felt tight I turned off the light and got under the covers I couldn't sleep I stared at the dark listening to my own breathing about an hour later I felt that cold draft again the towel at the door was wet and fog was drifting in anyway I sat up and looked at the foot of my bed three figures stood there they were motionless their outlines faint in the white Haze I saw what looked like shoulders and heads my stomach twisted and I felt a hot Rush of adrenaline my chest

tightened so hard I could barely breathe I could taste metal on my tongue I wanted to scream for Rob but I was terrified that if I made a sound these shapes would move closer I forced myself to flip on the bedside lamp lamp in that instant the room looked empty again the fog swirled a bit but the shapes were gone my hands shook as I reached for my phone on the nightstand I saw no signal just a blank icon I turned the lamp off again then turned it on off on off as if testing whether

the figures would show up if it was dark I felt sweat dripping down my back nothing appeared eventually I laid back but my heart wouldn't slow down in the morning I confronted Rob I told him I saw people in my room he gave me the same explanation as before that it was just an illusion just my mind playing tricks in the fog he seemed annoyed like I was insulting his Mountain Retreat I wanted to leave that day but part of me felt compelled to stay I wanted to prove to myself that I wasn't losing it

Rob went out for supplies I stood on the porch looking at the Peaks above half obscured by gray clouds I decided to take a walk of my own I grabbed a flashlight and a water bottle then headed down a trail I hadn't tried before the path was narrower with rocks and uneven steps the fog wrapped around me pretty quickly and soon I could only see a few yards in front everything was quiet except for my own footsteps then the voices started again soft at first then louder they swelled In Waves as if I was surrounded

by hundreds of unseen people my heart pounded and I felt dizzy my legs tensed and I crouched shining the flashlight in all directions the light only revealed shifting fog I called out hello my voice sounded small and shaky The Echoes of my shout came back twisted and distorted I heard what sounded like whispered responses but I couldn't pick out any words Panic Rose in me and I turned around to go back each step felt heavier my feet slipped on damp leaves the wind kicked up and the voices seemed to rise with it my hands trembled

and I kept the flashlight pointed at the ground to avoid tripping eventually I found my way back to the cabin I slammed the door behind me and locked it I paced around the living room breathing hard my clothes were damp from the fog and I felt a chill in my bones Rob came back an hour later carrying groceries I told him what happened and he looked concerned but still dismissive he reminded me that altitude can affect the mind that The Damp cold can cause illusions that I should rest more I didn't know what else to

say I decided to push through one more night and leave in the morning that evening we tried to watch an old movie on a small TV the reception was bad but it kept my mind off things for a while the wind outside became fiercer rattling the windows around 10 Rob said he was going to bed I stayed up staring at the weak TV signal until I couldn't keep my eyes open then I went to my bedroom and saw that the floor near the door was damp again I smelled that musty odor of wet fabric I

checked the window made sure it was locked I stuffed a fresh towel at the door I changed into dry clothes and got under the covers leaving the lamp on this time I tried to calm my breathing my eyes burned from lack of sleep after a while I must have dozed off I opened my eyes to find the lamp still on but now a thick cloud of fog filled the room I felt cold on my face again the shapes were back this time closer to the bed I saw at least two of them standing motionless their

outlines more solid than before they were about an arms length away from me my scalp tingled and my chest seized up my mind went blank except for raw panic I flailed for the lamp switch but my hands were shaking so much I missed it at first when I did manage to turn it off the shape vanished along with the light I flicked it back on they were gone my breath came in short gasps I didn't sleep for the rest of the night I sat up huddled under a blanket glaring at the corners of the room

expecting to see them again by morning my eyes were bloodshot and my limbs felt weak I told Rob I was leaving he tried to persuade me to stay another night but I couldn't take it anymore I didn't care if he thought I was losing my mind I packed packed my bag and walked out to my car standing by the driver's side I looked up at the mountain fog covered the peak like a heavy shroud I felt the same oppressive weight in the air for a second I thought I heard those voices again drifting on the

Wind my stomach turned and I forced myself to open the car door and get in Rob waved from the porch I started the engine and I took one last glance at the cabin before pulling away as I drove down the rough Mountain Road I realized my heartbeat was slowing and the tension in my shoulders eased the fog thinned with every mile I put between myself and that Summit when I finally hit the main Highway the Sun was shining through scattered clouds I felt like I could breathe again I don't know what I experienced up there

Rob would say it was nothing but hallucinations and altitude sickness but I'm not so sure all I know is that the mountain didn't feel empty it felt alive and I sensed it watching me every second I stayed I have no plans to return even now the memory of those silent figures sends a chill across my neck I'd rather keep my distance from that place for good I started working in this old art deco building in the center of the city 6 months ago on my first day I noticed the orn Lobby the floors had geometric

patterns and the marble columns had sharp lines carved into them everyone I talk to during that day said the building had a certain charm they pointed out the decorative elevators with their iron gates they said it was part of the building's Legacy from the 1930s I nodded along but I couldn't ignore a strange feeling in my chest it felt heavy I didn't know if it was anxiety about the new job or the building's atmosphere I tried to brush it off and focus on my routine after 2 weeks I realized I was often the last person

to leave the office my role involved handling Financial reports and these reports tended to pile up I stayed late to meet deadlines and I found myself alone in the long corridors there were times when the silence weighed on me the overhead lights buzzed the walls seemed to press in on me I told myself I was just tired but every time I walked to the elevator my skin prickled the elevator is old it has a folding gate you have to pull aside before stepping in there's a manual lever that you operate to choose your floor it's

supposed to be electric now but it still has that old lever Style on the panel there's a faint smell of grease and metal inside sometimes it's mixed with a stale odor I never like that smell I couldn't tell if it was mold or something else the interior lights are weak they flicker when the elevator moves the flooor is made of dark tiles and the walls are lined with scratched steel panels one night around 900 p.m. I packed my bag and headed for the elevator the corridor lights were already dimmed for the night as I approached

the elevator I saw something that made me stop the elevator gate was open but I was sure I left it closed when I came up I looked around the corridor was empty I could see the reflection of a single overhead bulb on the polished floor my heart pounded I took a few breaths and stepped into the elevator I closed the gate and pressed the button for the lobby as it started moving I felt a slight jolt and the lights flickered once then stayed on nothing happened until the elevator reached the fifth floor it stopped the

gate stayed closed but the elevator just paused I hadn't pressed five I tried pressing the lobby button again but it didn't move I could hear the hum of the motor I waited for a few seconds then without warning it continued down it didn't open the gate at the fifth floor or anything it just went straight to the lobby after that brief delay I walked out trying to seem calm but my hands were clammy my breath felt tight the lobby security guard was busy at his desk so I just waved goodbye and left I told myself

it was a glitch the next day I stayed late again this time it was 10 p.m. when I finished I grabbed my coat locked my office and walked down the corridor to the elevator the place was silent I could only hear my own footsteps they echoed in the hallway when I reached the elevator I heard a soft Clank inside the shaft it sounded like the elevator was moving I pressed the call button the sound stopped the elevator arrived the gate slid open I saw no one inside I stepped in pressed the the button for the

lobby and waited the ride was quiet until the sixth floor then it stopped on 6 the gate slid open by itself I looked out into the dark hallway no lights were on I peered into the hallway and whispered anyone there there was no answer I pressed the lobby button again nothing happened for a moment my pulse felt like it was hammering in my neck the gate stayed open and the elevator stayed on the sixth floor after a few seconds the gate slid shut on on its own and the elevator continued down when I got to

the lobby I saw the guard again he greeted me but I didn't say much I just nodded and left my stomach felt twisted my throat was dry I needed fresh air outside the city lights and the cool breeze made me feel a bit better I told myself I was stressed and that old elevators sometimes acted weird I decided not to mention it to my boss or co-workers I didn't want them to think I was losing it 2 weeks later I stayed after hours to finish an important report it was around 8:00 p.m. I stepped out

to get a soda from the vending machine the machine is at the end of the hallway I heard something near the elevator I heard the gate rattling like someone was opening or closing it I glanced down the hallway and saw a figure it looked like a tall man wearing a dark suit and a hat I froze he seemed to open the elevator gate step inside and then the gate shut I walked closer but by the time I reached the elevator it wasn't moving I pressed the call button it was on my floor the gate opened

the elevator was empty the overhead light flickered I felt a chill go through my back I ran my hand over my face I tried to calm down I grabbed my soda and went back to my desk I stayed there until I had the courage to leave around 9:30 p.m. over the next few days I started avoiding the elevator whenever possible I used the stairs if I had to come or go outside regular hours but sometimes the elevator was unavoidable my office is on the eighth floor and hauling heavy file Boxes by the stairs was tough

one evening I had to bring some archived documents down to the basement storage I dreaded using that old elevator but I had no choice I took the files loaded them onto a small cart and rolled it into the elevator I pressed the button for the basement the elevator groaned on the way down the lights flickered more than usual by the time I reached the basement I felt sweat on my forehead the basement itself is dimly lit there's a single Corridor with a few overhead lights and the storage room is at the far end the walls

smell of mildew and old paint I unloaded the boxes into the storage room locked the door and headed back toward the elevator as I approached I heard something it sounded like footsteps moving moving inside the Elevator Shaft they echoed like someone was climbing up or down the metal framework I Stood Still and listened the sound stopped the overhead light flickered in the corridor I opened the gate no one was there I stepped in pressed 8 and watched the gate close the elevator started up about halfway to the lobby it shook I felt my stomach drop

the elevator slowed then continued I kept my eyes on the small floor indicator it passed the ground floor and kept going at the fourth floor it stopped again the gate opened the hallway lights were off it was late I heard a faint whisper it didn't sound like words it sounded like soft breathing or someone muttering under their breath my skin tingled and my heart pounded I jammed the button for eight the gate shut and the elevator rose again when I got out on my floor I hurried to my office locked the door and sat at

my desk my hands were shaking I tried to focus on paperwork but my mind kept replaying those Whispers the next day I asked the building manager if there were any mechanical issues with the elevator I kept my tone casual he said everything was normal he admitted the elevator was old and could be noisy but he didn't mention anything about Phantom stops or random Whispers I didn't push the subject I just nodded and left that night I found myself alone in the office again the city outside was bright but inside everything felt lifeless the air was

stuffy I decided to leave before it got too late I packed my bag and walked to the elevator I tried to stay calm my Palms were sweating my back was tense I reached the elevator and looked around one last time the corridor was empty the overhead lights buzzed I pulled the gate open and stepped in I pressed the lobby button the elevator jerked then began its descent the ride was smooth until the sixth floor then it stopped without me pressing anything the gate opened the hallway was dim no one stood there I felt my breath

catch I stepped forward to check the hallway my foot touched the threshold suddenly the lights in the hallway turned off I heard the switch click my heart jumped I moved back into the elevator and pressed the lobby button repeatedly the gate closed slowly like something was resisting it then it finally latched the elevator went down one more floor and stopped again at the fifth floor this time the lights in the hallway were on I saw the corridor it was empty but I heard a scraping sound behind the closed doors of an office I didn't an

investigate I stayed in the elevator pressing the button my hands were trembling the elevator moved again stopping at the lobby I rushed out the security guard wasn't at his desk I didn't bother waiting I pushed open the main doors and stepped onto the sidewalk the cool air hit my face my knees felt weak I stood there for a moment breathing hard I turned around and looked at the lobby no one was inside the guard must have been in the back room or in the restroom I decided I didn't want to talk to anyone about this

I just wanted to go home for the next few weeks I had these experiences on and off sometimes the elevator operated normally and I wondered if I had imagined everything other times it stopped on random floors I heard strange noises that didn't make sense I tried to record audio on my phone once but all I got was static that night the elevator never acted up it felt like the building was playing games with me then one Friday night I had to send an urgent email to to a client I stayed until 7:00 p.m. that wasn't

too late so I felt okay I gathered my things and headed for the elevator when I got there I felt a sudden drop in temperature my arms tingled I hit the call button the elevator arrived as I stepped in I saw the reflection of someone standing behind me in the steel panel they wore a hat I spun around no one was there I Stood Still heart racing the gate started to close on its own I jumped to the control panel and pressed the lobby button hoping it would just take me down without any interruptions the

elevator passed the seventh floor the sixth floor then the fifth floor I watched the dial everything was smooth I exhaled thinking maybe it would be a normal ride then it jerked to a stop between the third and second floor the lights flickered and went out I was in complete dark Darkness I could only hear my own breathing I fumbled for my phone my hands were sweaty and my chest felt tight I turned on the phone's flashlight I shined it around the elevator was empty the gate was closed I pressed the emergency button the motor worred

and the lights came back on the elevator resumed its descent it stopped at the lobby when the gate opened I practically ran out I saw the security security guard standing by his desk sipping coffee I told him the elevator got stuck for a second he looked surprised he apologized for not noticing he said he'd inform the manager I nodded and left I walked straight to my car got in and sat there for a while trying to steady my breathing my shirt was damp from sweat my heart was still pounding over the weekend I couldn't stop

thinking about that moment in the dark the reflection of that hat kept replaying in my mind I considered quitting but I needed the job on Monday I went in early and tried to talk to the building manager again I asked if anyone had reported odd occurrences he shook his head he asked if I was okay I forced a smile and said I was then I went to my office I felt uneasy all day that evening I left exactly at 5:00 p.m. to avoid being alone everything was calm for a while but deadlines piled up again

and a few days later I stayed until 8:00 p.m. as I gathered my coat I heard Footsteps in the hallway I assumed it was a coworker I looked out but no one was there the sound continued like heavy shoes pacing back and forth I felt my heart tighten I decided I couldn't stay in the office I turned off the lights and locked the door I followed the corridor to the elevator I heard a faint whisper near my ear it sounded like someone breathing in my personal space I swung around shining my phone light but I

saw nothing I walked faster when I reached the elevator I heard the gate Clank open by itself I leaned forward and saw the elevator was right there as if it had been waiting for me I considered taking the stairs but my office was on the eighth floor my legs were tired and I had a heavy bag with me I stepped into the elevator and pressed the lobby button the gate closed with a metallic snap the ride was silent until the seventh floor the elevator slowed but then it picked up speed again at the fifth floor

it stopped the gate slid open I could see the dark hallway the overhead light in the elevator blinked and I saw that hat again just for a second near the edge of the gate I gasped and stumbled back then the elevator gate slammed shut and the elevator continued down when I reached the lobby I felt a rush of relief I got got out nodded at the guard and walked outside my legs were weak I stood on the sidewalk breathing the cool evening air I told myself that was enough I made a plan to talk to

my boss about working different hours I couldn't handle these late nights anymore at least if I left with the crowd I wouldn't be alone in that elevator I tried to calm myself I looked at the building's facade the art deco details were supposed to be beautiful but I only felt a sense of dread I checked my watch it was 8:15 p.m. the street was half empty headlights from passing cars lit the sidewalk in short bursts I realized I had no proof of anything there were no security tapes showing a man in a hat no one

else had mentioned seeing anything strange maybe others had experiences but never talked about them maybe they didn't stay late enough I don't know all I know is that every time I use that elevator alone I feel watched I hear Whispers I can't explain I see the gate open on Floors where nobody should be I see glimpses of a figure I can never find I keep telling myself I'll quit but so far I haven't I keep hoping management will upgrade the elevator or that will move to a different building but until that happens I just try

to avoid staying late if I do have to stay I stay in my office until I see a coworker in the hallway and then I slip out with them it's not perfect but I don't know what else to do I can't prove anything and I don't think it would help if I tried that's how it is I work in an old art deco building with an antique elevator it moves by itself at night it stops on Floors nobody called sometimes I catch a glimpse of a hat or hear muted Whispers no one else admits to

seeing or hearing anything but I can't ignore what I've experienced it's not imagination it's real enough for me and as long as I have to stay stay in that place I'll keep my guard up every time I step into that elevator I'll breathe shallowly I'll feel my heart thump against my rib cage I'll watch the gate waiting for it to open on some empty floor again and I'll try not to think about what I might see if it does I started my shift at the cemetery with a flashlight in my hand and a strange feeling

in my chest I was already on edge because I'd found a small structure on the far edge of the property that didn't match anything in the old files my boss told me to leave it alone but that didn't sit right with me I'm the caretaker here and I like to know every corner of this place the main paths are well lit and I keep those areas tidy but there's a section near the back with thick trees and uneven ground that's where I saw this odd building for the first time it looked like a stone melum

but the roof was slightly curved and the door seemed heavier than the others I never saw anyone near it and it wasn't marked on any official map I'm a man who doesn't scare easily I've worked at this historical Cemetery for a while doing all the usual maintenance jobs I sweep the walkways trim the bushes check the fences for gaps and make sure nobody is trespassing at night I also keep an eye on any unusual damage most days feel calm but this place has its quirks sometimes old Gates Creep by themselves sometimes I hear rustling in

the bushes I'm used to that the wind and local Wildlife make plenty of noise and it rarely bothers me but this structure changed my routine the first time I walked past it I heard a faint sound that made my spine tense I thought it was a radio at first maybe from a nearby house but the noise seemed too crisp like piano keys I stood there with my flashlight off holding my breath the sound faded I waited a few seconds then turned the beam of light on the door it was locked the door looked old covered

in thick rust I tried to see inside through a small Gap near the top but I couldn't make out much the interior looked dark I thought maybe I imagined the music so I Shrugged it off and went on with my rounds the next day I tried to find a record of this building in The cemetery's Archives this place is historical so we have old folders handwritten notes and a handful of typed documents from decades ago I flipped through them on my lunch break in the little office by the front gate I found references to Crypts

and mausoleums belonging to notable families but nothing that described that particular shape or location some of the oldest documents mentioned expansions or Renovations but still nothing matched the building I'd seen it bugged me but I couldn't jump to conclusions maybe it was a private cryp that someone forgot to register properly that night I took the long path around trying to avoid that area I was a little uneasy after my previous experience the moon wasn't out so the dark felt heavier than usual I moved my flashlight from side to side scanning the headstones in the trees

when I got close to that structure I heard piano music again this time it was louder and clearer I could recognize a slow Melody each note distinct my heartbeat picked up and my Palms started sweating my mouth got dry I tried to stay calm but my hands shook a bit as I held the flashlight I stood there and listened the music didn't skip or warble it sounded smooth like someone practiced that piece for years I had no reason to believe anyone was inside but I couldn't ignore that sound I walked up to the door I

pressed my ear against the stone I heard the piano better there like I was standing next to a real piano bench I tried to turn the handle it didn't budge the lock felt solid I tapped on the door the music stopped I yelled hello is anyone in there no answer I stepped back and felt a chill spread across my neck and shoulders I looked around to see if maybe the sound came from somewhere else the night was silent except for a slight breeze I got my phone out to check for a signal though I had

no idea what I planned to do with that I guess I thought about calling a coworker but the phone had no bars back there I felt nervous like I was doing something I shouldn't I decided to walk away and finish my patrol the next morning I returned during daylight the structure looked plain Under the Sun the walls were gray the roof was covered in Old chipped tiles and there was a stone engraving near the top it was too eroded to read I tried the door again still locked I circled the building on the other side

I noticed a small window window covered with iron bars the glass behind the bars was Dusty and I couldn't see inside I tried shining my flashlight through but the angle was bad the interior just looked dark I considered prying the bars loose but I decided against it I didn't have the right tools and I didn't want to damage property without approval that afternoon I searched the archives once more I went through old boxes in the storage room I opened brittle folders that smelled like old paper I Found Records of tombs from about a 100 years

ago handwritten notes describe the owners the plots the cost for maintenance but nothing about that Crypt just as I was about to give up a smaller notebook fell out of a stack it had no label on the cover inside someone had made partial sketches of the cemetery layout the drawings were rough the caretaker at the time might have jotted them down to plan repairs on the last page I saw a shape that looked like the structure I kept seeing next to it was a scribbled note strange addition not on official list that was it no

date no explanation I felt my heart skip a beat I had proof that someone noticed it before when I went on my evening rounds I heard the piano music for the third time it was the same slow Melody almost hypnotic I decided to do more than just knock I shined my flashlight around the edges of the door looking for gaps or hidden latches the music kept playing my breathing got faster my chest felt tight the notes sounded too perfect my mind kept saying this shouldn't be possible the building looked abandoned it had no electricity or

Windows big enough for a piano to fit inside I tried pushing on the door with my shoulder it felt solid as a rock I didn't want to break anything but I felt this urge to get inside I slammed my fist against the door a few times the music stopped my ears rang with the sudden silence then I heard a shuffle from within like someone shifting on a wooden bench I froze I whispered who's there nothing after a few seconds the music started up again repeating the same Melody my hands felt sweaty and I wiped them

on my pants I backed away every hair on my arm stood up I walked off feeling unsettled later that night I dreamed about the Crypt I saw myself inside holding a flashlight over a piano a stack of papers sat on top of the piano my name Jacob was scribbled in the margins I woke up with a jerk sweat on my forehead I told myself it was just a dream but it stayed with me all morning on my next shift I couldn't stop thinking about the place I decided to bring a crowbar I kept it in

a tool bag with some wrenches and screwdrivers around midnight when the grounds were silent I walked straight to that crypt the music started before I even arrived the same slow tune repeated again and again my heart pounded I felt sweat running down my back and my throat felt tight I gripped the Crowbar when I got to the door I set the flashlight on the ground I wedged the Crowbar between the door and the frame I gave it a good good yank the metal screeched my muscles strained and I felt my arm shaking the music inside

kept going no change in Tempo I pulled harder and the old lock snapped the door swung open an inch I heard a pop then silence the piano stopped I held my breath pushed the door open further and pointed my flashlight inside the air felt dense like I'd walked into a place that hadn't been opened in decades dust hung in in the beam of light my nose itched the walls were Stone in the center of the small room I saw an upright piano covered in a sheet the sheet looked stained with time and the corners were

frayed I stepped inside shining the light around there was no one there it was just me in that piano in the corner I saw a small wooden table piled with old papers my hands shook a little as I stepped toward the table my mouth felt dry I kept expecting someone to jump out from behind the piano but no one did I picked up the top sheet the handwriting looked old and Faded musical notes spread across the page on the side I saw my first name written in clear letters Jacob the date at the top read

1920 that was about 100 years ago my heart thed in my chest I skimm the text there were references to a caretaker next to it was my last name spelled correctly it described small details my hair color my height my job duties it even mentioned the brand of flashlight I used I felt my stomach flip I checked the other papers they were more or less the same some were rough sketches of the cemetery with notes about my root some included details about the jeans and boots I wore I swallowed hard my breath came in quick

bursts my skin felt clammy I stood stood there trying to process everything the smell of old paper and stone filled my nose I heard a dripping sound in the corner maybe from groundwater the piano stood silently I lifted the sheet and the piano's wood looked pristine I pressed one key gently the note rang out matching the tone I'd heard from outside I felt a flash of anxiety I looked around for any sign of a hidden speaker or something that might explain the music there was nothing I noticed a smaller notebook under the stack of papers

I slid it out the cover was cracked leather inside I saw more handwriting in the same style as the sheet music some pages had short entries describing nights when the caretaker walked by they mentioned specific times like caretaker walked past at 11:13 p.m. carrying a flashlight in his left hand they noted my exact route across the grounds the f entry read he will open the door soon he will see these Pages he will wonder how this is possible he must keep this place safe I didn't understand my breathing got heavier my heart pounded so hard

that I felt it in my throat my legs felt shaky I stood there shining my light across the small room the stone walls were bare there were no chairs no benches no personal items besides the piano and the stack of papers I wondered if I'd stepped into some trick maybe the old caretaker left these notes as a prank but the details about my flashlight and my clothes were too accurate and recent I thought about grabbing all the papers and showing them to my boss but I felt a strange urge to leave them there I forced

myself to calm down and took a few photos with my phone The Flash lit up the space for a moment and I saw faint carvings on the walls they looked like random marks or attempts at musical bars it was hard to tell I wiped sweat off my forehead my body felt tense like I was ready to run out the door any second I decided to check the piano a bit more I lifted the lid where the strings were everything appeared in working order no dust on the Hammers it looked like it had been maintained that

made no sense no one should be in here there's no caretaker for a crypt that doesn't exist in the official records I pressed a few keys the sound was pure and clear my skin prickled I stepped back breathing hard through my mouth after a few moments I forced myself to exit I couldn't stay in there any longer I felt like I was being watched even though I was alone I stepped outside the night air hit me in the face and I exhaled loudly my hands shook I locked the door from the outside by jamming the

broken lock as best I could then I I hurried back to the main path my mind spun with questions I couldn't explain what I'd seen or how my name appeared on documents from a century ago I didn't understand the music the memory of that slow Melody stuck in my head and I couldn't shake it back at the little office I sat down and tried to write a report about what happened I left out the part about the mysterious notes with my name I just mentioned that I found an unlisted Crypt with old furniture inside I

said the door was locked but the lock was broken so I sealed it with a temporary latch I stared at the blank space in the incident form where I should have explained the details my stomach churned I felt a headache coming on I saved the file without sending it I didn't know who would believe me anyway I still work here I pass by that structure every night sometimes I hear the piano music sometimes I don't I haven't gone back inside since that evening I think about it a lot though the images of my name on

those old papers won't leave my mind I keep telling myself there must be some logical reason yet every time I pass that stone building I feel my pulse rise and the memory of that Melody drifts through my thoughts I wonder if the piano is still covered I wonder if the pages are still spread across the little table I wonder if someone or something wrote more notes I never mentioned any of this to my boss or co-workers they don't ask questions and I don't volunteer information I keep my flashlight aimed straight ahead when I Patrol that

area when I catch myself looking at that worn door I think about the times I heard the music I remember how it stopped whenever I knocked that tension sits in my chest every time I see the building in my peripheral vision I don't have answers I haven't found a neat explanation I only know I can't erase those images from my head the old date on the sheet music the handwriting that described me in my life the perfect tone of that piano and the quiet hush the moment I forced my way inside I can't forget how

wrong it felt to stand there in the dusty space with no one at the keys hearing only the echo of my own breathing that's my story that's what keeps me on edge whenever I walk through the back of the cemetery at night I just do my job and try not to linger but sometimes I swear I can still hear the faint outline of that Melody drifting on on the air right behind the heavy door that shouldn't exist I moved into this place because the price was too low to ignore the listing said it was over

a hundred years old the seller mentioned some minor repairs but nothing out of the ordinary the neighborhood was quiet and I liked the idea of living in a piece of History I had no real expectations besides making it my home after I signed the papers I felt satisfied I had a new place with big Windows High ceilings and a huge attic I thought I scored a great deal then The Whispers started I heard them on my first night I was in bed half asleep and I heard a soft noise above me it sounded like someone

calling my name but it was so quiet that I wasn't sure if I dreamed it I got out of bed and walked to the hallway I flipped on the light but the bulb flickered I stood there listening the attic entrance was near the end of the hallway The Whispers seemed to come from there they stopped as soon as I got close I didn't feel anything weird yet just a little uneasy about being in a dark Hall I looked at the closed attic door in the ceiling felt a slight chill and walked back to my bedroom

I thought maybe I was tired or imagined it the next day I woke up and tried to forget about it I did some unpacking set up a couple of shelves in the living room and made lunch in my new kitchen I was excited about the old fashioned fixtures the sink had these detailed brass handles and there was a big Pantry that smelled like old wood everything felt normal until late afternoon I was on the couch scrolling through my phone when I heard the Whispers again it was the same soft calling of my name it echoed

for maybe 2 seconds then died it felt like a breeze passed through the room but there were no windows open I stood up walked around checked the doors nothing the sound had no clear origin but it seemed to come from upstairs I decided to explore the attic I grabbed a flashlight and climbed up the attic hatch was a bit stiff it took more effort than I expected the stairs creaked loudly under my weight when I reached the top I felt a sudden drop in temperature it wasn't freezing just a sharp difference from downstairs the air

smelled stale there were old boxes a few broken chairs some scattered tools and a large trunk against the far wall a single hanging bulb lit the space but the corners stayed dark I stood there scanning the room my breath felt tight my arms tensed up and I could feel Goosebumps forming along the back of my neck I thought I heard something again like a faint breath I aimed the flashlight at the corner nothing moved moved I walked over to the trunk curious about what was inside I tried to open it but it was locked I

shook it a little and heard a dull thud from within like something shifting my heart started pounding faster and I felt a faint sense of dread I had no logical reason for it I just felt unsettled then I heard the floorboards Creak I turned around fast shining the flashlight no one was there I swallowed hard I said hello my voice sounded shaky and too loud in the Attic no response I left half convinced I was just spooking myself that night The Whispers got louder I was brushing my teeth and I heard my name again this

time more distinct Daniel it whispered my pulse jumped I spat out the toothpaste and turned off the faucet the house was silent for a moment I opened the bathroom door and looked down the dark hallway way I listened carefully then I heard it again Daniel it stretched the syllables my spine felt cold and my hand started shaking I ran to my bedroom slammed the door and turned on the lamp I sat on the bed heart pounding trying to calm down I told myself it was the house settling or maybe a draft but I knew what

I heard the next morning I decided to buy a few cameras I went to a local electronic store and got a basic security system I placed One camera in the hallway facing the attic door I put another in the Attic itself aimed at the trunk and the darkest corner I set them to record continuously I felt a bit ridiculous like I was overreacting but I needed to see if anyone was getting into my house or messing around the day went by quietly I cooked dinner watched TV and tried not to think about The Whispers later

that night I sat down at my computer to check the camera feeds I watched hours of footage there was nothing unusual the attic camera showed a still Dusty room the hallway camera captured me walking around flipping lights on and off going in and out of the bathroom no Intruders no unexplained Shadows I started to think maybe I was just hearing things but then I looked at the audio levels the program I used showed spikes in sound at random intervals I played one clip back but I didn't hear anything except faint static then I noticed that

if I turned the volume all the way up I could hear a strange low murmur it was too distorted to make out words I listened again pressing my headphones against my ears my own name seemed to surface through the noise it sent a jolt of fear through me there was no one in the video but the microphone picked up something I marked the time codes and saved the files I couldn't sleep that night I tossed and turned worried about who or what was in my attic at around 2 a.m. I had a dream in the

dream I was standing in the attic and there was a man in a black suit he stood in the far corner where the light didn't reach he didn't move or speak his face was blurry as if I couldn't focus on it I felt trapped like my feet were stuck to the floor I couldn't look away from him I woke up drenched in sweat breathing hard my heart hammering in my chest I sat up grabbed my phone and checked the time it was 2:10 a.m. I wiped my face on my sleeve tried to calm down and

eventually drifted into a Restless sleep the next day I went back to the attic it was daytime so it felt a little safer the light coming through the small attic Windows made the place look less menacing still my skin prickled as soon as I climbed up I I kept imagining that man in the black suit standing in the corner I walked over to the trunk again the lock looked old and a bit Rusty I pulled on it gave it a few jerks but it wouldn't budge I considered breaking it but I didn't have the right

tools with me I decided to look inside the boxes instead most were empty one had some old newspapers from the 1960s another held a broken lamp and some tarnished silverware nothing weird nothing that explained the voices I spent the rest of the day installing better Lighting in the attic I replaced the single bulb with a brighter LED fixture I swept the floor pushed the trunk against the wall and tried to reorganize some of the junk I hoped it would help me feel more in control the entire time my chest felt tight and I had this

weird expectation that I'd hear The Whispers at any moment my nerves were on edge but the attic stayed silent while I worked that night I checked the camera feeds again just like before no sign of movement the audio however showed those spikes I listened to a few sections and heard that same low murmur it made me feel sick to my stomach I turned off the computer and decided to watch some mindless TV until I got sleepy around midnight I headed to bed I left the hallway light on because I didn't like the idea of total

darkness I fell asleep quickly but the dream returned this time the man in the black suit was closer he stood a few steps away from me I saw his outline clearly but his face was in Shadow my heart was racing in the dream and I kept hearing my name repeated in a whisper I woke up to my own voice mumbling something I couldn't remember my arms were tense and my jaw hurt from clenching my teeth I sat up and stared at the darkness in my bedroom the hallway light was still on on and it cast

a narrow band of light under the door I didn't hear any Whispers then but I felt like I was being watched I got up opened the door and looked down the hall empty I forced myself to check the attic hatch it was closed I locked my bedroom door and tried to go back to sleep but I kept my eyes open for a long time the next morning I called A friend told him I might have an animal in the attic I didn't mention the voices or the dream we checked around looked for anything signs of

rodents or raccoons we found nothing no droppings no nests no holes it all looked normal my friend laughed and said maybe I was haunted I forced a chuckle but I felt uneasy after he left I sat at the kitchen table and drank coffee my hands were shaking and my stomach felt tight I stared at the ceiling Imagining the old beams and the trunk above me it felt like the house was holding on to something I spent the next few night nights trying to record more evidence I placed audio recorders in several rooms I checked everything

the next day and found more of those bizarre sounds they were always faint always spaced out at times I thought I heard a few words come closer stay I wasn't totally sure if that was real or if my mind was filling in the gaps the stress was affecting me my appetite dropped I felt jumpy at small sounds I double checked my locks at Night My Dreams were always the same that man in the suit standing in the darkest part of the attic after a week of this I decided I needed to get into that trunk

I went to the hardware store bought a crowbar and headed upstairs my heart was pounding by the time I reached the attic the air felt heavy I set up a flashlight on a small stool aimed it at the trunk and jammed the Crowbar under the latch it took some Force but eventually the lock snapped the lid creaked when I opened it inside there were some old clothes a pair of leather shoes some letters tied with a brittle cord and a small photograph in a wooden frame the photo was black and white showing a man in

a black suit I couldn't see his face clearly but he had that same shape as in my dreams my throat went dry I could feel my hands tremble as I held the picture I set it aside and looked through the clothes they smelled musty like they'd been in there for decades the shoes were scuffed and worn the letters were in cursive handwriting but the ink had faded they seemed personal mentioning the house but I couldn't read every detail because some words were unreadable my brain was on overdrive all I could focus on was the man

in the photo he had that formal old-fashioned look standing stiffly with no smile the background showed what looked like the attic but it was hard to tell I placed everything back in the trunk except the photo I kept it in my hand staring at it I felt a prickling sensation on the back of my neck like someone was right behind me I spun around nothing there I left the attic feeling dizzy I started having more frequent nightmares the suit man never spoke he never moved he just stood there looking my way I couldn't see his

eyes or or mouth but I felt his Focus the next day I tried to distract myself by working on some repairs around the house I replaced a few loose floorboards fixed a leaky faucet and swept the front porch the routine tasks helped me stay busy but my nerves were shot every so often I'd catch myself glancing upstairs worried I'd see something at night the voices felt louder than before the sound seemed to come through the walls I sat in the living room all the lights on and listened it was a constant hush like a person

breathing my name I wanted to run outside and drive away but I forced myself to stay calm my chest felt tight my scalp tingled my hands were cold and damp I pushed back against the fear telling myself it was just a house an old place with creaky wood and weird Acoustics but deep down I knew there was more to it I started talking to the empty space asking it what it wanted I didn't get an answer just that whisper repeating my name I tried to ignore it and watch TV but my concentration was ruined I

turned the volume up but the whispered words just slid under the noise I slammed my hands on the coffee table and shouted stop the voices faded for a second then came back I felt helpless I decided to check the camera feeds one more time I scanned every second of footage from the attic cam there was nothing visible just the faint flickers of dust in the air the audio was a mess of static but then I noticed a single frame where the static changed shape it looked like a shadow I advanced IT frame by frame and

I saw a silhouette in the corner it matched the shape of the man in my dreams the figure lasted only a moment my hand Shook on the mouse and I felt a sting of panic in my chest the next frame he was gone I replayed it five times double-checking same fleeting Shadow I saved the file and turned off the computer I felt shaky all over my legs were weak and I needed to sit I sank into the chair staring at the blank monitor I kept seeing that silhouette in my head it was the same presence

I felt every time I heard my name he was there just out of sight calling me to the attic my phone buzzed and I almost jumped out of my skin it was a friend asking asking how I was settling in I lied and said everything was fine I didn't want anyone to think I was losing it that night I barely slept every time I closed my eyes I saw that black suit the house felt like it was alive with tension the walls creaked more than usual the wind outside seemed to Rattle the windows I got

out of bed around 3:00 a.m. and walked down the hallway I stood under the attic hatch staring up at it my heart pounded I reached up and touched the latch but I couldn't bring myself to open it the cold air around the hatch made my arm hair stand on end I whispered what do you want no answer just silence my throat felt dry my mouth tasted stale I kept my hand there for a moment then I backed away and returned to my room I'm still in this house I think about leaving but I already bought

the place I can't just abandon it I'm trying to figure out what's happening here I keep the cameras rolling and I listen to the recordings every day sometimes I think I hear new words in those Whispers sometimes they sound angry other times sad the man in the black suit still visits my dreams he's always in that corner half shrouded calling me my stomach ties in knots every time I step into the attic and the tension in my shoulders won't let up I don't know why this thing chose me or why it stays hidden but I'm

determined to find out this house has secrets and they revolve around that trunk that photograph and The Whispers that echo through the halls I live with this anxiety day and night I feel it in the way my pulse races when a door creaks I feel it in my stiff muscles and my quick anded breathing whenever I climb those attic stairs something is here something that wants me to know it exists and now I can't leave this behind I have to face it this is my house now and I have to find a way to make

sense of whatever's lurking in the dark two weeks ago I hung an old family portrait in my living room at first I thought it would give the space a vintage Vibe something to balance out the modern furniture I didn't know it would make me question my sanity I remember the day I found that painting in a Dusty box in my parents attic my mother told me it was a distant ancestor someone we barely knew about she didn't remember when the painting arrived in our home she just said it had been around for Generations it felt

wrong to leave it hidden away I thought it deserved a place on my wall I never expected it to follow me at night I live alone in a modest house on the outskirts of town I have a small living room connected to the kitchen and the painting is the first thing you see when you walk in it shows a man with strong features wearing clothes from some Cent long past his eyes are dark but there's a trace of intensity there like he wants to make a statement the frame is made of thick wood with detailed

carvings it feels heavy I only managed to hang it because I used a sturdy hook after I put it up I stood back and admired it it looked right as if it belonged there for a few days nothing strange happened I came home from work dropped my keys on the kitchen table and ate dinner in front of the TV sometimes I'd catch a glimp of the painting out of the corner of my eye I didn't think anything of it but one night I was watching a late movie I turned off the TV around midnight feeling

a bit tired as I passed by the painting I had a sudden urge to pause I glanced at the Man's eyes it felt like they locked on to me my skin prickled I stared for a few seconds but I told myself it was just my imagination the next night I noticed the same thing the eyes seemed to shift when I walked from the living room to the kitchen I got the sense that those eyes were tracking me I looked over my shoulder the painting was still but there was this cold heaviness in the air my

arms felt clammy and a small chill crawled up my back I tried to Shake It Off by turning on some music my heart was beating a bit faster than usual I wasn't exactly scared but I was on edge a few days later I was cooking dinner I heard a creaking sound from the living room like a floorboard shifting my house does have some old boards so they tend to make noise but this was different it felt like someone was stepping on that creaky spot next to the couch I turned off the stove stepped into the

living room and flicked on the overhead light everything looked normal the painting was there dimly lit by the lamp on my side table I tried to listen for more sounds but there was nothing my skin felt tight and and I realized I was gripping my spatula harder than I should eventually I went back to cooking but my appetite was gone that same night I decided to take a closer look at the painting I sat on the couch with the table lamp shining directly on the canvas the paint looked worn with cracks running through the background

the Man's eyes had this glossy Sheen I could see brush Strokes that suggested the painter took special care with that part of the face I I leaned in and spotted something odd near the edges of the canvas the color was slightly different like there was another layer beneath the surface I grabbed a flashlight from the kitchen drawer and examined it more carefully sure enough there was a faint outline of something else it looked like a second face hidden under the paint I couldn't see it clearly but I knew it wasn't part of the background I

felt my stomach tighten I placed the painting on the floor and tried to peel back a tiny bit of the top layer I only managed to loosen a small fragment I didn't want to destroy the artwork so I stopped I sat there wondering why someone would paint a new portrait on top of an older one my hands were shaking a little I was annoyed at myself for being so jumpy but I couldn't deny that the painting felt strange it gave off a kind of static energy like something buzzing beneath the surface I got up to

fetch a glass of water as soon as I stepped into the kitchen I heard a dull thud behind me I rushed back to the living room heart pounding the painting was still on the floor leaning against the couch nothing else seemed out of place I stood there feeling tense my arms were prickling with goosebumps I realized I needed to calm down so I took a deep breath and sat back on the couch I told myself it was late and I was just tired that night I had a dream I saw the ancestor in the portrait

he was standing in my living room wearing the same outfit I saw him move his lips like he wanted to tell me something I heard my name but it was distorted almost like a low hiss I woke up drenched in sweat my heart pounding the clock on my nightstand read 3s a.m. I didn't go back to sleep the next morning I tried to stick to my routine I got up showered and made coffee I avoided looking at the painting as I passed by for some reason I felt uneasy my neck felt stiff and my eyes

were tired I figured I'd been sleeping poorly so I popped a pain reliever and drank my coffee in silence I had to get to work so I left the house and tried to focus on my job but all day I kept recalling that dream I kept hearing that hiss in the back of my mind when I got home I braced myself before opening the door the painting was exactly where I had left it hanging on the wall I forced myself to walk over and look at it closely the face was unchanged the eyes looked the

same but that feeling of being watched was Stronger now my mouth felt dry I reached out and touched the frame it felt cold more than I expected for wood my spine tingled but I shook it off and went about my evening I tried to distract myself by scrolling through my phone it didn't help every few minutes I glanced at the painting around 10:00 I was cleaning up the living room I turned off the lamp and started to walk out suddenly I had the Sensation that someone was standing right behind me my back tightened my heart

rate spiked and I felt an urgent need to run I whipped around my breath catching in my throat the painting was there and the rest of the room was empty but the air felt dense like the pressure in the room had changed I forced myself to breathe I walked to the hallway refusing to look back again that night I lay in bed Eyes On The Ceiling my body was tired but my mind was racing thoughts kept circling around the hidden face I saw under the paint I wondered if I should try to restore the original

image maybe that hidden face held some clue about this ancestor my chest felt tight I wasn't sure if I wanted to know the dream had already rattled me and I didn't feel ready to uncover more secrets I forced myself to close my eyes and eventually drifted off my sleep was Restless I kept dreaming of the man in the portrait in one dream he reached out and grabbed my wrist I felt pressure like a real hand squeezing my arm then I saw a second face overlap his flickering like a weak flashlight I heard a faint knock

but I couldn't tell where it came from I woke up gasping my sheets damp I looked at the clock it was close to 4:00 a.m. my heart pounded against my ribs I sat up feeling the room spin I grabbed my phone to see if there were any messages nothing I drank some water and stayed awake until dawn the following evening I decided I couldn't ignore it anymore I moved a small desk lamp to the living room and placed it on the floor next to the painting then I grabbed a thin scraper and some cotton swabs

from my garage I knelt down in front of the portrait my hands were shaking a bit as I started to gently test the layers of paint near the edges I wanted to see if I could peel back enough to reveal what was underneath without damaging the entire piece the top layer flaked off in tiny bits I saw hints of another color maybe a darker shade of blue or green it didn't look like a background it looked like part of a figure I could see a rough outline of an eye but it wasn't aligned with the

main portraits eyes I felt a sudden Rush of cold air across my shoulders I shivered and twisted around half expecting to see someone behind me there was nobody there my head hurt from tension I turned back to the painting and continued to work after maybe half an hour my knees were sore from kneeling on the floor I got up to stretch and my phone buzzed with a message from a friend I glanced at it but I didn't reply I just couldn't focus on anything else right then I placed the painting on my coffee table for

a better angle I leaned in pushing the desk lamp closer the flaking paint revealed part of a different mouth thinner than the one on the surface portrait I thought I saw the shape of a nose beneath the top layer my hands felt clammmy I was desperate to see more but I felt uneasy about pushing too far a wave of nausea hit me I stepped back and took a few deep breaths it was getting late I felt drained physically and mentally I decided to stop I carefully put the painting back on the wall I wiped up

the paint Flakes and put the tools away my eyes were burning and my back felt stiff I walked into the bathroom to splash water on my face when I looked in the mirror my eyes were red and I had dark circles under them I realized I hadn't eaten dinner my stomach growled but I had no appetite I just wanted to sleep or at least lie down and rest when I went to bed I kept my door open I usually close it but I felt the need to keep an ear out for any noises I turned

off the lights leaving only the faint glow of a Street Lamp shining through the window I lay there eyes open ears straining for a long time I heard nothing then around midnight I heard the floor Creek in the living room it was the same spot I noticed a few days earlier my muscles tensed and a cold sweat broke out on my forehead my breathing grew shallow and I had this urge to curl up but I forced myself to get up and check I flipped on the hallway light It cast a dim glow into the living

room the painting was on the wall motionless the room was empty my heart thumped so hard I could feel it in my neck I waited for a few minutes but nothing else happened I returned to my bed I couldn't sleep I kept Imagining the painting's eyes moving in the dark at some point I must have drifted off because I had another dream I saw the ancestors face morph into that second face they kept swapping their mouths moved forming words I couldn't understand I felt a hand on my shoulder and I jerked awake my shoulder tingled

but there was no one in the room I stared at the ceiling my pulse racing it took a while to calm down now it's been about 2 weeks since I first hung that painting I I can't stand looking at it but I also can't bring myself to take it down it's like I'm supposed to keep it there every time I pass by I feel those eyes on me my skin crawls and my mind races with questions I found evidence of a hidden face under the first one but I haven't fully revealed it I'm scared of

what I'll see if I keep going I worry about these dreams and the cold spots in my living room they're getting worse I'm not sure what the painting wants from me or if it wants anything at all maybe I'm imagining everything but the physical reactions feel real enough my back tightens my hands get clammmy and I hear footsteps behind me when I'm alone the nights are the hardest the tension builds and I catch myself listening for sounds that might not be there my heart races and I clench my jaw so hard it hurts I have

this constant feeling that the portrait is on the edge of revealing something it's like a small pressure in the back of my skull I'm not ready to deal with whatever's hidden beneath the paint I keep having these dreams where the figure from the portrait tries to tell me a secret but his words come out in Whispers And static my thoughts bounce between curiosity and Dread I still don't know if I can face the truth that painting holds but I do know I can't ignore it forever for now I'm trying to keep my sanity in check

day by day hoping that the answers won't come crashing down on me in the middle of the night I almost walked out of the theater that night without thinking twice I had finished my regular checks I was tired and the only thing on my mind was getting home but I heard something through the speaker connected to the main microphone it sounded like a faint hum a female voice carrying a tune I didn't recognize that was the moment everything changed for me I stopped near the mixing console stared at the empty stage and felt my pulse

Spike I didn't see anyone up there and the sound system was on standby I thought maybe there was a glitch or some interference from another frequency it didn't make sense but I figured I could test the lines one more time before leaving I stayed until almost midnight checking every cable and every input I found nothing wrong that hum stayed in my mind the next day I came back in the afternoon for routine tests before the evening performance I was the first one in which was normal I prefer working alone to avoid questions or interruptions I

turned on the power amps tested the microphones and everything was silent no static no voices the show went fine that evening after the final Act I lingered on stage picking up stray cables and rolling them properly I locked the back door turned off the main stage lights and went down to the booth again again to make sure everything was off that's when I heard it for the second time the same voice only now it was singing a series of notes in a different pattern I felt a tingling on the back of my neck like my

skin had tightened I swallowed hard and tried to stay calm I switched on the stage lights from the booth and looked out at the curtains no one was there the seats were all empty the aisles were empty the stage was empty but the sound was definitely coming through the monitors the hair on my arm stood up my chest felt tight I turned off each channel one by one but the sound continued until I muted the entire board then it stopped I told two of my co-workers about it the next morning they looked at me like

I was talking nonsense they said I was probably tired and hearing things I didn't argue but inside I knew I was fully alert I'm used to long nights my job demands that I pay attention to every tone every h every hiss from the speakers it's my profession I don't make things up when we had a break that afternoon I decided to run a full diagnostic on the sound system I spent hours on it I checked the microphone cables the wireless packs the frequencies every piece of equipment I couldn't find a single fault still I hoped

The Voice wouldn't come back but part of me wanted some closure I wanted to confirm it was a technical teal error but a more honest part of me wanted to hear it again I was starting to feel curious maybe even obsessed that evening we had a musical performance on stage I stayed backstage to manage the microphones while the stage manager handled the cues everything was normal after the final bow I started my usual routine again I walked around picked up equipment rolled cables and powered off the stage lights then I returned to the booth to

do another shutdown a slight chill ran down my arms as I tested the main microphone again alone in the booth I said testing one two into the microphone watching the level meters on the console everything was silent I felt a small sense of relief then I heard a whisper it sounded like my name I froze it was a woman's voice soft and slow I looked at the console The Meters barely moved but I heard it my ears weren't lying I felt a sudden rush in my chest my mouth got dry my Palms started to sweat

I turned around to look at the seats nothing the stage was dark no movement at all I leaned forward and tried to speak into the mic again asking who's there I got nothing but a low crackle I stood up from my chair walked to the stage entrance and flipped on the work lights the entire space lit up revealing rows of seats the aisles and the stage still no one I can't explain why I felt compelled to speak softly is anyone here my voice echoed no answer I walked around backstage checked the dressing rooms the hallways

the corners every room was empty I went back to the booth shut everything off and forced myself to leave I felt shaky and unsettled the next day I talked to a friend of mine who handles lighting he smirked and told me I needed a vacation I couldn't blame him it sounded like a ghost story but I knew this was real something was going on in that theater I felt it in my gut that evening I arrived earlier than usual hoping to investigate more I climbed up to the catwalk to see if there was any hidden

speaker or old wiring that might be causing weird feedback I found Dusty cables and old fixtures but nothing that explained a woman's voice at around 5 the stage manager came in she said the night's performance would be a small play nothing major I kept my observations to myself during that show I stayed near the sound console listening carefully everything worked fine after the performance I repeated my routine I cleared the stage stored the microphones secured the cables turned off the stage lights at about 11: p.m. I was at the console in the booth again checking

a cable patch I felt a heavy tension in the air I heard a faint hum I switched on the monitors the hum got louder the voice returned singing those strange notes my chest felt like it was vibrating my vision locked onto the stage I opened one of the channels on the console hoping to isolate the sound instead I heard a whisper come here my entire body jolted my teeth clenched I felt sweat gathering on my forehead I wanted wanted to call out but I froze the voice repeated come here it sounded gentle but it made

my stomach twist I pushed back from the console and walked down to the main floor my heart pounded my legs felt unsteady I moved down the center aisle looking at the stage my mind raced with questions why did I feel drawn to it why did I think I had to follow it the voice said my name again so quiet I almost didn't catch it I stepped onto the stage the floor creaked it was dark except for the ghost light we keep in the back I looked at the old curtains the ropes the backdrop everything seemed

normal but I sensed movement somewhere I moved behind the curtain past stored props and an old piano that hasn't been used in years The Voice went silent I stood there for a minute waiting my ears straining to catch any sound I could only hear the hum of the building's HVAC system my pulse hammered in my ears then I heard a soft laugh from off to the left side I spun around nearly tripping over a coiled extension cord I aimed my flashlight in that direction a door LED down into the basement storage area I rarely go

down there because it's cluttered and musty The Voice seemed to come from somewhere near that door I walked closer shining my light on the walls the floor the random pieces of old sets stacked around I tested did the handle on the door it was unlocked I opened it and peaked inside dust floated in the light beam it smelled damp and stale I stepped inside checking the steps to avoid falling my foot made a scraping sound on the concrete the door closed behind me the sound made me jump and I let out a quick breath my

hands trembled I called out hello and my voice echoed against the stone walls no answer I stood on the last step scanning the basement for movement rows of shelves with old props and spare lighting equipment lined the walls a few Empty Chairs sat in one corner the air felt heavier down there I switched on a light bulb that hung overhead the space lit up revealing dust and cobwebs I looked around carefully checking behind the shelves and under the tables nobody I started to wonder if I had made a mistake coming down my skin crawled and

I felt an urge to get out then as I turned to head back the voice whispered my name again it sounded so close that my hair stood on end I Whirled around shining the flashlight I saw a shadow move near a stack of old set walls my pulse was so strong that my hand shook I tried to speak but my throat felt tight I forced my feet to move forward I approached the stack of old set pieces feeling like I might pass out from nerves nothing jumped out I kept shining the flashlight I kicked aside

some cardboard boxes to see if anyone was crouching there nothing but dust and scraps then I felt a slight brush of air near my neck like someone exhaling my body tensed I spun around flashlight beam sweeping across the floor The Voice whispered one word so softly I almost didn't catch it stay my knees felt weak I couldn't see anyone but the sound was too real to be in my head I stopped trying to breathe trying to keep my mind clear I felt my heartbeat hammering I realized I was Dripping sweat I needed to leave I

turned off the light bulb climbed back up the steps and open the door the backstage area looked the same as always but my senses were on high alert I expected something or someone to appear no one was there I put the flashlight on a Shelf and walked onto the stage I locked the basement door behind me ignoring the voice I hurried to the booth shut off everything as fast as I could and rushed out the main exit I didn't even lock up properly that night my hands wouldn't stop shaking until I got home and tried

to sleep for the next few days I felt on edge I tried to avoid being alone in the theater but my job requires that I stay late sometimes I found excuses to leave early when I could but eventually I had to close up again on that night I told myself I'd be quick I performed my final checks on the board coiling cables in silence I had set my phone to play music quietly in the background because I didn't want to hear any more voices but I didn't get a choice after a few minutes my music

cut out I looked at my phone it was still on but the audio had paused on its own then I heard the female voice again through the monitors I felt my hands start to tremble my mouth went dry the voice said don't ignore me I almost dropped my phone my breathing got shallow and fast I muttered under my breath what do you want I still felt ridiculous like I was talking to empty air The Voice seemed to come from right behind me follow it said my heart pounded so hard I thought I might faint I

walked toward the stage door looking around to see if maybe someone had managed to sneak in but the hallway was empty the corridors all looked dark I stood there unsure if I should do what it asked my instincts told me to run my curiosity told me to keep going I crept through the backstage area stepping carefully trying to make as little noise as possible I heard a low hum like a single note held by a distant singer it guided me toward the left side of the stage I followed it around a series of crates and

costume racks I stopped when I reached a locked Supply Closet the hum disappeared I tried the door knob it was locked I felt a jolt of frustration I needed to know what was inside but I didn't have the key I backed away deciding to give up for the night I returned to the booth grabbed my backpack and left the building my mind raced with questions about what was in that closet I had never bought bothered with it before it's used for storing old sound gear we don't use anymore I told myself I'd ask the manager

for the key the next day when I got home I couldn't settle down I replayed the voice in my head over and over I barely slept the next morning I asked our stage manager if I could get into that Supply Closet she Shrugged and gave me a key she asked if I needed something from there but I lied I said I was just doing an inventory check I waited until the theater was empty again I wanted no interruptions I felt anxious but I also felt a strange pull to go inside that room around 10 p.m.

I walked to the Supply Closet with the key in my hand the hallway smelled like fresh paint because a new setpiece had been touched up my footsteps sounded too loud on the concrete floor my heartbeat raced I reached the door inserted the key and heard the lock click I stepped in and flicked the light switch the single over head bulb lit the small room shelves along the walls held ancient mixers broken microphones and Tangled cables a few cases sat on the floor collecting dust I walked around checking if anything looked out of place everything seemed

normal no signs of anything that could explain the voice then the light flickered I felt a chill in my arms and an odd pressure in my chest the same hum started again as if coming from inside the closet itself it was soft but it echoed in my ears I opened one of the old mixer cases I saw a Dusty console wires some spare fuses I noticed a taped up corner where someone had scratched a name but I couldn't read it the hum got louder and I felt a burst of adrenaline I turned to look at

the door but it was still open the coridor was empty I spoke quietly I'm here what do you want me to say see the hum went silent for several seconds I heard only my breathing then I heard a soft sigh right behind me I spun around shining my small flashlight nothing my lungs burned from shallow breaths I felt sweat rolling down my back I leaned against the Shelf trying to calm my heartbeat then without warning the overhead light went out completely I was left with only my flashlight I heard a hushed whisper I couldn't make

out the words but I felt them in my ear warm and intimate my entire body tensed I scrambled for the door I wanted out I pointed my flashlight at the doorway and moved as fast as I could right before I stepped over the threshold I heard my name again the voice was so clear it felt like a person standing an inch away I stopped but I couldn't turn around my stomach churned and my KNE KN felt weak I walked out and shut the door behind me locking it with shaking hands I hurried to the exit

not caring if I left some lights on in the hallway I just needed air when I got outside I took deep breaths leaning against the brick wall my body was covered in sweat and my head achd from the tension I thought about what had just happened this presence or voice wanted me in that closet but why I had no clue it seemed to want me to keep searching or maybe it wanted me trapped inside its world of strange sounds I felt like the theater itself was alive but I refused to go back that night I

decided to stop telling my co-workers they wouldn't believe me anyway over the following nights I heard the voice again and again sometimes just a faint Melody sometimes calling my name I felt drawn to it yet terrified to go deeper I forced myself to finish my job task S as quickly as possible and leave my body stayed tense whenever I was alone in the building each time the voice reached out I felt that twisting in my gut that dryness in my mouth The Rush of Blood pounding in my ears I'm still working in that old theater

every evening I brace myself for the moment the performances end and everyone leaves I stay behind checking the equipment rolling cables looking over my shoulder and waiting for that voice I haven't gone back to the basement I haven't opened that Supply Closet again but I feel the voice sometimes hovering at the edges of hearing wanting me to discover something or maybe wanting me to surrender to its call I keep telling myself I can handle it I keep telling myself I'm just hearing faulty signals but I know it's not a glitch I can't prove it but

I feel it and every night when I'm the last person here I feel my muscles tighten ready for what whatever that voice might do next I heard the first complaint about my guest room on a night when my old friend Mark stayed over after a long road trip around 3:00 in the morning he burst into the living room sweaty and wide-eyed he told me he'd been jolted awake by loud knocks on the wall like someone striking it with a closed fist right next to his head he said his heart pounded so hard that he couldn't

catch his breath I Shrugged it off and blamed thin walls or maybe the pipes but I felt a chill when he insisted he heard footsteps outside the door and when he looked no one was there I didn't think much of it until two more visitors had the same experience on separate nights they woke up terrified complaining about nightmares filled with strange images they couldn't quite remember one of them said it felt like someone was in the room with him standing by the window and staring in his Direction my guests described hearing scraping sounds like a

chair being dragged across the floor they described loud knocks that seemed to come from inside the walls each time I tried to console them by reminding them the house was old I assumed this was just creaking pipes or the sound of wind against old wood panels then I discovered that the guest room stood right over the spot where decades ago there used to be a makeshift infirmary of sorts the previous owners apparently cared for sick relatives in that room the local historical records mentioned a small corner with cabinets a cot and some basic medical supplies

once I learned about that detail I started noticing things it began one Saturday afternoon when I was alone in the house I was upstairs sitting in my bedroom trying to fix a cabinet door that wouldn't close properly the hallway was quiet but then I heard slow deliberate footsteps the floorboards creeped and it sounded like someone was taking cautious steps right outside my door my mouth went dry and I stopped what I was doing I walked out and saw no one in the hallway I checked every room upstairs including the guest room but everything was still

the bed was in place the closet door was closed and the windows were shut there was no reason to hear footsteps unless the weight of someone was Shifting the old wooden floor over the next few weeks I kept feeling a presence whenever I spent time upstairs sometimes it was like a cold draft that trailed just behind me I'd be brushing my teeth in the bathroom and I'd feel this sudden temperature dropped near my shoulders as if someone was standing there I'd spin around expecting to see a person but there was only empty air my heartbeat

would speed up and I'd force myself to Exhale slowly telling myself it was all in my head the more I paid attention the more I heard small Clues quiet bumps against the walls a soft rattling in the ceiling and something that sounded like Furniture scraping across the floor it always came from the direction of the guest room on a few occasions I stepped inside that room and tried to sit quietly hoping I would catch the sounds but whenever I was in there alone it felt too still even the air seemed heavier but there was no

immediate noise then my coworker Dany spent the night he had come over for a weekend to help me work on some minor Renovations he slept in the guest room because the rest of the house was full full of boxes and Tools around 2: in the morning I heard him shout my name it wasn't a casual call it was urgent like he was yelling for help I rushed upstairs as I entered the doorway I saw him standing in the middle of the room panting his hair was matted to his forehead and he was clutching the edge

of the mattress he told me he woke up when he felt something pressing down on his legs he said he heard a rustling sound in the corner near the closet Dany insisted that when he turned on the bedside lamp he saw the closet door inching shut like it had just been open a moment earlier I couldn't explain that I tried to calm him down by checking the closet it was empty except for some spare pillows and an old blanket there was nothing inside that could move the windows were locked the door to the hallway was

still closed he ended up spending the rest of the night on my couch I didn't blame him after that I realized I needed to figure out what was happening in that room I started keeping a small audio recorder on the dresser in the guest room whenever someone stayed over I told them it was just to see if I could catch the knocking sounds I never played the recordings in front of my guests because I didn't want to freak them out but I listened to them when I was alone for the first few nights I got

nothing but background noise the hum of the air conditioner the occasional Creek of the house settling or the muffled toss and turn of whoever was sleeping then on a night when my friend Jeremy stayed over I captured something disturbing around 3:15 a.m. there were three distinct knocks on the wall followed by the sound of what might have been a chair scraping against the floor it was subtle but it was there the next morning Jeremy told me he had a nightmare about being tied down to a bed he said he heard banging inside the dream like

something was hitting the walls he woke up in a panic he didn't even notice the sound in reality but the recorder picked them up this coincidence sent a chill down my spine I started researching the old infirmary records more thoroughly I spoke to a few older people in the neighborhood they told me that during the early half of the last century it was common for families to nurse the sick at home they said the infirmary in my house might have seen a lot of suffering but nobody confirmed any deaths they only knew that several people

spent long uncomfortable nights in that room moaning in pain or coughing through the night at least that's what local story suggested I couldn't find any official documentation mentioning anything violent or tragic in that room still the fact that people were treated for serious illnesses there made me uneasy when I had no visitors for a week I noticed a strange silence in the guest room I checked it every day it felt stagnant like a room in a vacant house that nobody visited how Ever every time I walked in I got a tingling feeling in my arms

and neck at night if I lay in bed and focused I sometimes heard faint noises coming from that direction but they were softer it was like the entity or whatever it was went quiet when it had no audience the tension was still there though hovering I decided to spend a night in the guest room myself I wanted to experience what my friends had described maybe I was pushing my luck but I needed to see if this thing would show itself to me I brought a flashlight my phone and a small notepad I turned off all

the lights locked up the house and got settled in the guest bed around midnight for the first hour I scrolled through social media trying to stay calm the room was the same as always a dresser in the corner a small nightstand and an old wooden chair near the window after a while I set my phone aside and closed my eyes my heart thumped at a steady pace and I tried to concentrate on any unusual sounds for a long time it was silent the only noise was the soft whoos of air coming from the vent I

started to think maybe I wouldn't experience anything at all then around 2 m a.m. I heard a slight tapping it was more of a light scratch than a knock like a fingernail sliding across the wall right behind me I sat up and flicked on my flashlight there was nothing to see the wall was plain with no pictures or shelves I tapped my Knuckles against the same spot trying to figure out if a loose pipe or a tree branch outside could make that sound there was no tree branch near that portion of the house and none

of the pipes should have been moving enough to cause a scratching noise the moment I turned off the flashlight I heard it again this time on the opposite wall my stomach tightened I got up and moved to the other side of the room I Stood Still and waited holding my breath breath everything felt heavier and my arms were tense a few minutes later I heard a soft thump on the floor near The Chair by the window I whipped my head around and aimed the flashlight there the chair hadn't moved the curtains were still but I

felt sure something had touched the floor I knelt down and placed my palm against the spot it was just an old wooden floorboard cool to the touch no sign of anything that could have caused the noise my heart was pounding pounding my breaths were shallow and fast I remember wiping sweat off my forehead I sat back on the bed and grabbed my phone I checked the time 2:36 a.m. I decided to record a voice memo just to see if I could catch any sounds I rested the phone on the nightstand and whispered if there's something

in this room let me know my own voice sounded shaky I waited for a response feeling A tingle at the back of my my neck that same cold sensation I'd felt before crept over my shoulders I looked around in the dark but I saw only the dresser the chair and the bed the corners were dim and the closet door was slightly a jar I stared at that dark Gap convinced I might see it move it stayed still the tension in my chest was becoming unbearable I could feel my pulse in my temples I tried to

focus on any subtle sound eventually I thought I heard the faintest of squeaks like a door hinge turning I stared at the closet door but it wasn't moving I stood up walked to the door and pushed it open all the way the closet was empty except for the same items as before I waved my flashlight over every surface nothing then behind me I heard a single loud knock on the wall it wasn't right next to me it sounded like it came from near the headboard of the bed I stepped back and turned shining the light

in that direction my breath caught in my throat I felt a sensation like static running across my skin no sign of any movement but the knock was so clear I couldn't pretend it was just the house settling I rushed over and grabbed my phone my hands trembled as I looked to see if it had recorded the knock I hit stop and played it back the recording was mostly silence then I heard my whisper followed by a few seconds of quiet and then a faint knock it was there I didn't imagine it I decided I'd had

enough for one night my mind was racing and my stomach felt tied in knots I left the guest room and went downstairs my heart kept beating hard for several minutes I sat on the couch trying to calm down my arms were shaking over the next few days I kept thinking about why the activity always increased with visitors it was like this present needed the energy or the fear of someone who wasn't used to the house my best guess is that it wants an audience or it wants to reach out to people who aren't me I

live here all the time so maybe it doesn't bother with me unless I force myself into its space the tension never left every day I feel it sometimes I hear faint knocks or footsteps even when I'm not focusing at least now I have proof that it's not my imagination I haven't driven myself out of the house yet because it's mine and I don't want to abandon it I'm determined to find out what this entity wants I've thought about bringing in someone who knows about paranormal investigations but I haven't done it yet I'm not sure if

I'm ready to turn my home into a spectacle I've considered asking my next visitor if they'd allow me to set up more equipment in the guest room maybe a video camera and some sensors I need more evidence I need to understand why it stays quiet when the room is empty why it knocks on the walls and why it keeps causing nightmares sometimes when I walk by the closed door of the guest room in broad daylight I sense a shift in the atmosphere the rest of the house might feel normal but the air around that door

feels colder I pause and listen usually there's nothing but my spine tingles anyway I take a breath and move on I have to keep living my life I have my job my routines and my friends I can't let this consume me completely still each new time someone asks to spend the night I brace myself I warn them the room can be creepy some laugh it off thinking I'm just being dramatic others choose to stay on the couch preferring not to risk it but I know that eventually someone else will sleep in there and the cycle

will repeat they'll describe the knocking the nightmares the feeling of being watched they might hear scraping sounds or foot footsteps they'll probably come running out in the middle of the night I'm not sure how this will end I can only keep Gathering Clues waiting for the day when I understand what or who occupies that space for now I live with the tension it's an uneasy coexistence I walk upstairs and I feel the prickle of unseen eyes I keep my distance from the guest room unless I need to step inside for cleaning or to grab something

I don't talk to it I don't provoke it at least not anymore I learned that if I push too hard I'm the one who ends up terrified there's no big climax to my story at least not yet I'm here the entity is here and we both go about our business in a stalemate but I know it's there I see the evidence in my visitors panicked faces and in their stories of restless nights I hear it in the recordings I feel it in the hair standing standing up on the back of my neck and every time

I hear those knocks on the walls I remember that I'm not as alone in this house as I'd like to be for for for for for for for for for for for for for for for for for