ECHOES OF THE DARK

s they made their way down the old, dusty road, their footsteps crunching over the dry leaves that littered the path. The town of Oak

d lifeless, gave off the impression that the house had been abandoned for years, if not decades. The walls were cove

n Jesse, but there was an undeniable edge of maturity to him that made her second-guess her own uneas

sound convincing. But the words felt hollow as they left her mouth. There was someth

ent-just a flicker at one of the windows. She blinked, but when she looked again, the

Sam, always the curious one, refused to move. His gaze was fi

he house. There, standing perfectly still, was a figure. It was a man, his face obscured by th

skipped a beat. "Who is that

rply and vanished into the darkness of the house. T

re," Sam said, though his voice waver

she intended. "No, we're not going up there

for a moment, then reluctantly followed him. She couldn't shake the feeling that they were being drawn int

e silence weighed on them, the only sound being the rustling of the wind in the tre

is?" Jesse asked, her

or open with a creak that echoed into the

t as they cautiously stepped deeper into the darkness. The only light came from the dyi

ng primal-kept her moving forward. She followed Sam, who seemed to know ex

ront of a door. Jesse felt a cold chill crawl up h

hand hovering just above the doo

ach churned.

r open, and they b

ge, broken mirror hanging crookedly above a faded dresser. There was an ol

ildren. They looked strangely lifelike, as though they could jump out of the canvas at any moment

m whispered, his finger pointing sh

iar, but she couldn't place where she had seen him before. Her mind raced, tryin

aid, her voice trembling

lammed shut behind them with a deafen