Amelia's feet pounded against the pavement as she ran, cold air burning her lungs. Samuel was right behind her, his footsteps steady, urgent.
She didn't dare look back. She could feel Lucas's presence, like a shadow stretching toward her.
Samuel grabbed her wrist and pulled her sharply to the right, down a narrow street. "This way!"
Ahead, a house loomed at the end of the road—old, abandoned, and eerily familiar.
Amelia dug her heels in. "No—wait! That's…"
But Samuel didn't stop. He yanked open the rusted gate and pulled her inside. The door was already unlocked, creaking as he shoved it open.
They stumbled into the darkness. Samuel slammed the door behind them and locked it.
For a long moment, there was only silence.
Amelia's breath came in short gasps. "This is… this was my house."
Samuel nodded. "I know."
She shivered. The air inside was thick with dust and the scent of damp wood. The furniture was covered in white sheets. It was like a frozen moment in time—untouched, waiting.
Waiting for her.
Amelia's hands trembled as she reached for the staircase railing. "Why did you bring me here?"
Samuel exhaled. "Because if you really want answers… this house is the only place that might give them to you."
A flicker of memory stirred in her mind. She had lived here. She had died here.
Swallowing hard, she forced herself forward. Each step creaked beneath her weight, echoing in the stillness.
She reached the top of the stairs. The door to her old bedroom was slightly ajar.
Something was waiting inside.
Her fingers hovered over the doorknob.
Then—
A whisper, soft as a breath, brushed against her ear.
"You came back."
The lights flickered.
Amelia gasped, spinning around.
The hallway was empty.
But she wasn't alone.
Somewhere in this house—something remembered her.
To be continued…