Amir leaned against the bus seat, his eyes gazing out the window. The winding village road remained the same as he remembered, surrounded by vast rice fields stretching into the horizon. The evening sky was darkening, signaling the approach of night.
It had been a long time since he returned to Kampung Sempadan. Ever since leaving for university in Kuala Lumpur, this was his first time stepping back into the place where he grew up. However, amidst the nostalgia, something troubled his mind—the house at the end of the lane.
Since childhood, that old house had been rumored to be haunted. The villagers avoided it, let alone dared to step inside. They claimed it was not just abandoned but inhabited by something unseen. However, Amir had never believed in such stories. To him, they were just myths meant to scare children.
But there was one thing he could never forget—every time he walked past that house, he felt something watching him from the dark window. Sometimes, he saw a shadow moving inside, but whenever he mentioned it to others, they would either laugh or shake their heads.
"Amir, where are you getting off?" asked the bus driver, an old man known as Pak Man.
"At the junction up ahead, Pak Man," Amir replied with a small smile.
Pak Man nodded slowly. "You've been away for a long time, huh? The village is still the same, but... things have gotten a bit strange."
Amir frowned. "Strange? How?"
Pak Man sighed as if hesitant to speak. "You'll see for yourself…" he muttered before focusing back on the road.
Half an hour later, the bus stopped at the junction leading into the village. Amir got off with his backpack and began walking toward his grandmother's house. The village air was fresh, but his heart felt heavy.
As he neared his grandmother's home, his eyes caught sight of the old house at the end of the lane. Once, it was just an ordinary abandoned house. But now, it looked darker and more sinister. The wooden walls were covered in black moss, and one of its windows was slightly open, as if someone inside was peering out.
Amir swallowed hard. He quickened his pace, trying to ignore the uneasy feeling creeping up his spine.
But then, he froze.
From the direction of the house, he heard a faint whisper.
"Amir..."
His heart pounded. He looked around, searching for the source of the voice. The village road was deserted. There was no one else there but him.
"Maybe I imagined it..." he told himself.
Taking a deep breath, he resumed walking. His grandmother's house was only a few meters away. But just as he was about to step forward, the curtain in one of the house's windows shifted slightly.
Amir stood still. He was certain something was inside that house.
He quickly hurried to his grandmother's house. As soon as he reached the door, he knocked frantically. Within five seconds, the door swung open, revealing an elderly woman with a loving smile.
"Amir! Oh, my dear grandson, you're finally home!"
Amir smiled, trying to mask his unease. "I missed you, Grandma."
His grandmother took his hand and pulled him inside. "Come in quickly. It's not good to be outside at dusk."
Amir nodded and stepped in. But before closing the door, he glanced toward the end of the lane.
The abandoned house remained there, dark and silent. But this time, in the dimly lit window, he saw something.
A pair of glowing red eyes staring straight at him.