Chapter 1: Inheritance*

Eliza and Sean sat in their cramped apartment, the dim yellow light from the overhead lamp casting shadows across the cluttered coffee table. Eliza flipped through the thick envelope, staring at the official letterhead of a law firm she didn't recognize.

"Well, here it is," she said, holding up the letter. "We've been officially named heirs to Aunt Rosemary's house."

Sean raised an eyebrow but didn't look up from his laptop. "Aunt Rosemary? The one we never met? The one who sent us those weird postcards with cryptic messages about the moon?"

"That's the one," Eliza muttered, feeling a strange unease in the pit of her stomach. "I don't know why she left us the house, though. She was a recluse. She... well, she always seemed a little strange."

"I don't know why you're getting all worked up about this," Sean said with a shrug. "We're gonna sell it, right? Could be worth a fortune."

Eliza glanced back at the letter. The lawyer's words were formal but clear: *Upon her passing, Aunt Rosemary left everything—her estate, her belongings, and her house—to you both. The house is located at 42 Maple Street, and you are expected to take possession immediately.*

"Maybe we should take a look at it first, before we sell it," Eliza said, her voice trailing off. There was a strange pull she felt toward the place, an inexplicable curiosity that she couldn't shake.

"Sure, whatever," Sean said, half-distracted. "We'll go, check it out, and then get rid of it."

But as Eliza packed her things that night, she couldn't help but feel that there was something more to this inheritance, something waiting for them in that old house. And it wasn't just the creaky floors and dusty furniture. It was the whispers she felt deep in her chest, a sense of foreboding that followed her as she packed her suitcase.

The drive to Maple Street took longer than expected, the winter air biting at their skin as they pulled up to the house. Eliza stared at the old Victorian-style building as it loomed over them, its gabled roof draped in a shroud of ivy, its windows dark and uninviting. The house had a silent, almost watching quality to it, like it was aware of their arrival.

"Well, this place sure has character," Sean remarked, stepping out of the car. He was already glancing at his phone, lost in thought, but Eliza couldn't tear her eyes away from the house. There was a coldness about it that made her skin crawl.

The front door creaked as Eliza pushed it open, the air inside was musty, heavy with the scent of mildew and old wood. The foyer was large, the walls lined with faded wallpaper that was peeling in places, and the floorboards were scuffed and warped. It felt as if the house hadn't been lived in for decades.

"Alright, let's get this over with," Sean said, rubbing his hands together. "I'll check out the basement. You can wander around, I guess."

Eliza didn't respond immediately. She wandered into the living room, where the sunlight barely filtered through the dirty windows. Dust motes danced lazily in the air, and she couldn't help but feel the weight of the silence pressing in on her. It was so still, so unnatural. She walked deeper into the room, her footsteps muffled by the thick carpet.

A sound made her pause—soft, faint. At first, she thought it was just the house settling, but then it came again—a single, clear note from an old piano. The sound cut through the silence like a knife, hollow and haunting.

Eliza's breath hitched. She slowly turned toward the source of the sound, her heart beginning to race. There, across the room, was an ancient piano—one of those grand, ornate ones, its dark wood nearly black from age.

She stepped toward it, a strange compulsion pulling her closer. The sound came again, but when she reached the piano, it was silent. The room seemed unnervingly still.

"Hey, Eliza, you okay in there?" Sean called from the hallway, his voice pulling her from her trance.

She swallowed hard. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just... thought I heard something."

with a shrug, Sean returned to his exploration of the house, and Eliza stood in the living room a moment longer, trying to shake off the sense of unease that clung to her. That piano- why will it play by itself ??...

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How is this guys please let me know how you think this story will go in the comments section.

love y'all 💖💖

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