By Vaani Dosi
Emma had always been a practical girl, unshaken by ghost stories and urban legends. At seventeen, she was more interested in her part-time job and college applications than anything supernatural. But tonight, she was alone in the house, a rare occurrence that she looked forward to for some peace and quiet. Her parents were attending a wedding out of town and wouldn't be back until the next evening.
The old house, nestled on the outskirts of their small town, had always been a comforting place for Emma. But as the sun set and darkness crept in, the familiar creaks and groans of the house seemed more pronounced, almost deliberate. She shook off the unease and settled into the living room with a bowl of popcorn and a horror movie—an ironic choice, she thought, given her current solitude.
As the movie played, a sudden, sharp crack echoed through the house. Emma jumped, spilling her popcorn. She paused the movie and listened. Nothing. Just the house settling, she told herself. But as she picked up the popcorn, she heard it again—a distinct, deliberate tap, tap, tap.
"Just the pipes," she muttered, trying to convince herself as much as the empty room. She resumed the movie, but her mind wandered. The tapping continued, now more insistent, almost like footsteps. She muted the TV and strained to listen. The sound was coming from upstairs.
Emma's heart pounded in her chest as she stood up. She debated calling her parents but didn't want to seem like a scared child. Grabbing her phone, she cautiously ascended the stairs. Each step felt heavier than the last, the old wood creaking under her weight.
At the top of the stairs, the hallway stretched before her, dark and foreboding. The tapping had stopped. She moved toward her bedroom, the source of the noise, and hesitated before opening the door. The room was empty, just as she'd left it. She breathed a sigh of relief, but it was short-lived. As she turned to leave, she caught a glimpse of something in the mirror on her dresser.
A shadow.
Emma froze. The shadow moved independently of her, lingering in the mirror's reflection. Her breath hitched as she slowly turned back to the mirror. There was nothing in the room with her, but the mirror showed otherwise. A dark figure stood behind her, indistinct but menacing.
She spun around, her heart racing, but the room was empty. Turning back to the mirror, the figure was closer now, almost at her shoulder. Emma backed away, her hands trembling. She grabbed her phone and tried to call her parents, but the call wouldn't go through—no signal.
Desperation set in. She ran to the window, hoping to see a neighbor, anyone, but the street was eerily empty. She glanced back at the mirror. The figure was gone. She let out a shaky breath, trying to convince herself it was just her imagination. But then she heard it again—tap, tap, tap—right outside her door.
Emma's blood ran cold. She crept toward the door and pressed her ear against it. The tapping stopped, replaced by a low, guttural whisper. She couldn't make out the words, but the tone was unmistakably sinister.
Summoning every ounce of courage, she yanked the door open. The hallway was empty, but the whispering continued, now seeming to come from all around her. She stumbled back into her room, slamming the door shut. Her eyes darted to the mirror. The figure was back, clearer this time, a shadowy outline with piercing, hollow eyes.
Emma backed into a corner, clutching her phone like a lifeline. The figure in the mirror stepped closer, reaching out with a shadowy hand. The room grew colder, the air thick with an oppressive, malevolent presence.
Just as the figure's hand touched the surface of the mirror, there was a sudden, blinding flash of light. Emma screamed, covering her eyes. When she dared to look again, the mirror was shattered, its surface cracked like a spiderweb. The figure was gone, and the whispering had ceased.
Her phone buzzed to life, a message from her parents saying they were on their way home. Emma collapsed on the floor, tears streaming down her face. The house was silent once more, but she knew she would never be alone in it again.
The shadows had seen her, and they were always watching.
By Vaani Dosi
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