True Scary Stories Told to the Sound of Rain | Relax and Fall Asleep Quickly Vol. 153 l Black Screen

Hello everyone I am the Storyteller and I am here to help you today I know you use this video to fall asleep so before that like the video and subscribe to the channel also where are you from and what time are you watching now get comfortable and relax it started with a low hum above my ceiling at first I thought it might be a pipe problem or some wiring issue I was used to weird sounds in Old buildings But this hum wasn't like the usual clangs or Creeks it felt closer it felt intentional I remember

standing in my living room looking up and waiting for it to go away it never did it just lingered soft and constant like someone was breathing right above me that was my first clue that something was off I didn't know yet how bad it would get I've lived in this apartment for 5 years and I've always heard rumors that the upstairs floor was empty the landlord Told told me it had been vacant for a long time the hallway leading to that unit was always dark and the door at the top was sealed from the outside

with a rusted chain nobody ever talked about it and I never saw anyone going up there people came and went from the other floors but the top floor stayed quiet I used to think it was just a space the owners never bothered to renovate but then I started hearing voices my bedroom is right under where that sealed Apartment should be the first time I heard the Whispers I was half asleep I rolled over in bed and checked my phone it was a little past midnight I was annoyed because it sounded like muffled talking but I

couldn't make out words I tried to ignore it I stuffed a pillow over my ear and hoped I'd drift back off the next night at the exact same time I heard it again this time I sat up in bed my heart pounded and I listened carefully it wasn't just random mumbling There was a pattern to it like someone was speaking in short bursts I got out of bed and pressed my ear to the ceiling the voice was hushed but it had a rhythm like a chant without any real Melody I remember my skin crawling because

the tone sounded close to my ear as if the speaker was just on the other side on the third night my curiosity beat my nerves I climbed out of bed at exactly midnight my hands were shaking because I anticipated that voice sure enough right On schedule I heard it again my heart dumped in my chest and I felt my mouth go dry I grabbed a flashlight from my nightstand and decided to check upstairs there was no logic in waiting anymore I wanted to prove to myself that nobody was there that maybe it was a pipe

or the wind I pulled on a pair of jeans a sweatshirt and quietly crept into the hallway the elevator in my building is ancient so I took the stairs I reached the second floor landing and noticed how Dark the corridor was the overhead lights flickered sometimes but that night they were out entirely the air felt thicker and it smelled stale like old cardboard left in a damp basement I aimed my flashlight at the chain door the chain was there but it looked Loose as if someone had undone a link I got closer and noticed the

door was slightly a jar that alone should have made me turn around but I couldn't I felt a pull it was as if something up there wanted Me to come my breathing quickened and sweat gathered on my forehead my legs felt unsteady but I placed my hand on the door and pushed it opened onto a long Corridor at first I couldn't believe what I was seeing the hallway stretched much farther than the buildings blueprint allowed my building is old but it's not gigantic there should have been a short hallway leading to one or two apartments

instead I saw a narrow passage with a bunch of doors on Either side each spaced out evenly the flashlight beam only showed me a portion of it but even then I could tell something was wrong I looked behind me the stairwell was right there part of me wanted to go back but I couldn't I stepped inside the floor creaked under my feet the wallpaper was faded and peeling as if no one had been there for decades a stale odor like rotting wood hovered in the air I ran my hand along the wall the paint felt

crumbly and Flakes came off on my fingers I swallowed hard and moved forward trying to to keep my footsteps light my own breathing sounded too loud in that space I stopped in front of the first door on my left it was made of dark wood with a tarnished brass knob there was no label or number something inside me said not to touch it but I placed my ear against it anyway at first I heard nothing then I caught a faint thumping like someone tapping the door from the other side my Pulse raced I backed away

shining my flashlight at the door the tapping grew louder and it sounded like a steady Rhythm it almost matched the pace of my heartbeat I took two steps back wondering if I should try the knob but I felt this deep dread so I moved on the next door was identical dark wood a brass knob again I put my ear to it this time I heard something like heavy breathing in and out steady and slow it didn't sound Labored but it was definitely not an empty room I jerked back pointing my flashlight at the CRA back

where the door met the floor I expected to see a shadow or movement but the space underneath was Pitch Black I stayed there for a few seconds then forced myself to keep walking I passed a few more doors without stopping I could hear soft knocking and more of that whispering my spine tingled and my skin felt clammy my flashlight started to Flicker I smacked it a few times to keep it steady something about this Corridor felt unnatural it was too long and every door seemed to have something behind it the building I live in doesn't

have hallways like this there shouldn't be multiple apartments on this floor yet here I was walking deeper into a place that seemed to have no end eventually I saw a faint glow at the far end it looked like light seeping out from under the last door my chest felt tight and I Had to remind myself to breathe every step closer I felt like the walls were closing in my shoulders felt heavy my head started to pound I got closer and heard the same voice I'd heard from my bedroom ceiling it sounded clearer now like it

was coming from behind that door I realized it was saying something that almost sounded like my name it wasn't exact but it was close enough to make my stomach twist I stood in front of that final door for what felt like a long Time though it was probably only a few seconds the light underneath was a dull pale color I gripped the knob it felt colder than ice I turned it and pushed the door resisted it felt jammed I pushed again harder finally it swung inward with a groan my flashlight beam lit up a completely

bare room the walls were plain the floor was plain and there was a single window that showed a black Sky I walked inside scanning every corner there was no furniture no person Nothing still The Voice continued it sounded like it came from the ceiling again I looked up and saw a crack in the plaster dust sprinkled Down The Voice grew louder more frantic I stepped directly beneath the crack and tried to see if there was an attic or another hidden space the whispering turned into muttering almost like chanting I shouted who's there my voice echoed

around the empty room my flashlight flickered again and for a second everything went dark When the light came back on the chanting stopped the room was dead silent I stood there panting trying to figure out what to do next my heart was racing and I felt an urge to run but the door behind me slammed shut on its own I jumped and spun around shining my flashlight on it I tried the knob but it wouldn't budge then I heard pounding from the hallway coming from all the other doors it was like a chorus of fists

hitting wood in a steady Rhythm sweat dripped down my face I tried to open the door again twisting and pulling with all my strength it held firm behind me something scraped against the floor I whipped around shining my flashlight in that direction the center of the room had a fresh crack in the floorboards it looked like something underneath was pushing upward my stomach lurched and I felt a wave of panic I ran to the window hoping it might open or at least give me a way out when I pressed My hands against the glass I

realized it was too dark to see anything outside it was like a black void I could see my reflection in the glass my eyes wide with Terror but nothing else I grabbed the frame and tried to slide it open it was stuck the pounding from the hallway got louder like every door was under attack my ears rang with the sound of fists hitting wood my lungs felt tight I yelled for help even though I was sure nobody else was around my flashlight Started flickering more frequently giving me only brief flashes of the room each time

it flickered that crack in the floor seemed wider finally my flashlight died completely and I stood there in darkness hearing my own ragged breathing and the Relentless pounding outside I reached into my pocket pulled out my phone and activated the flashlight function the light wasn't strong but it was enough to see that the crack now ran across half the room my Phone battery was at 30% and it felt like it was dropping fast I took a step toward the door thinking maybe I could force it open as I passed over the crack I heard a

hollow Echo beneath my feet the floor felt unstable like it might give at any moment I placed my hand on the doorknob again and yanked as hard as I could it didn't move my muscles were trembling my breaths were shallow I pressed my phone to the knob to see if there was some lock mechanism I could Pick or Break It Was An Old knob the kind without a modern Keyhole no luck there I slammed my fist against the door yelling to whoever might hear the pounding from outside still matched my blows there was a pattern

to it like the entire hallway was mimicking me just then the whispering returned it was faint but unmistakable it came from behind me again somewhere above the crack in the ceiling my throat went dry I turned around phone flashlight held up Dust was falling in tiny clouds the ceiling had hairline fractures all over and it looked ready to collapse I felt trapped my body tingled with adrenaline my legs felt weak but I forced myself to walk back to the center of the room I stared up at the ceiling the whispering got louder it sounded like

it was calling to me but not in a language I recognized my heart pounded and I felt dizzy I don't know why but I shouted what do you want no response The Voice Just kept Whispering the floor creaked beneath my feet I knelt down shining my phone at the crack in the floorboards there was only Darkness down there but I thought I heard Movement Like scraping or shuffling my mind raced I felt cornered the door was stuck the window was sealed the ceiling and floor both seemed ready to break apart the pounding outside grew even

louder it felt like the doors in the hallway were being hit by a battering ramp the sound Echoed inside my chest made my stomach twist my phone battery read 15% I was sweating so much that my shirt clung to my back I took a step away from the center of the room pressing myself against the wall near the window my mind kept bouncing between fear and Desperation I tried calling someone anyone but I had no signal the phone screen showed no bars that never happened in my apartment before I stared at that crack in the

ceiling expecting It to burst open at any second a part of me thought about trying to break through the drywall or kick down the door but my body felt heavy and my hands were shaking so badly I could barely hold my phone the whispering grew into a low moan and I felt it reverberate in my chest I screamed in frustration and charged the door I slammed my shoulder into it ignoring the pain that shot down my arm it didn't budge the pounding in the hallway stopped for a moment like it Was waiting to see what

I do next my phone was now at 10% my heart hammered I tried to think about anything else I could use maybe the window glass could be broken I grabbed the flashlight from my belt realizing it was dead but I could still use it as a blunt object I swung it at the window with everything I had the glass didn't crack and the impact sent a shock through my arm I tried again nothing it was like hitting solid steel Behind H me the floor groaned I heard the board snap a jolt of Terror ran through

me I spun around shining my phone flashlight at the floor the crack had widened and I saw a gap big enough to fit my foot through it looked like there was a Dark Void below as if the building's Foundation was missing my hands shook so much that the phone light wobbled the board shifted slightly and I thought they might collapse if I moved too much then the hallway pounding Started again loud and fast it felt like an army was outside hammering on every door my eyes darted around the room searching for another way out I

spotted a small vent near the ceiling on the far side it was one of those older vents that might lead into some crawl space I made my way around the edges of the room trying not to step on any weak spots I reached the vent stood on my toes and tried to see if I could pull the cover off it was held on by screws and I had Nothing to unscrew them I tugged but it wouldn't come off my phone flashed a warning 5% battery left my adrenaline surged and I tried the door one last

time throwing all my weight against it the knob rattled but it held firm I couldn't stop shaking my mind kept returning to the question how is this Corridor even here it shouldn't exist my building doesn't have space for a hallway this long or this room but I knew I was definitely in it the faint Smell of r rot and dust filled my nostrils the chain outside had been undone something had led me here the whispering changed pitch and got louder echoing off the walls the pounding outside became a steady pulsating beat my phone was at

3% my hands were clammmy and my arm hurt from hitting the door I felt like the walls were inching closer I took a deep breath raised my phone flashlight to the ceiling one more time and stepped back to the the center of The room ignoring the crack as best I could the voice was so loud it felt like it was right in my ear my heart pounded in my skull and I yelled stop but the whispering didn't stop I felt the floor shift under my weight the board sagged and I nearly lost my balance the

phone flashlight flickered and then shut off total darkness my body went rigid the only sounds were my own breathing and that Relentless pounding in the h hway then I felt a breeze on my face like air Was being sucked in from somewhere below I stumbled backward groping in the dark my fingers found the doorknob again but it was colder than before I tried it half expecting it to open now that I was on the brink of collapsing it stayed locked I pressed my forehead against the door swallowing hard my throat was so dry it hurt

the pounding outside reached a fever pitch and the whispering Rose to to match it it felt like the air itself was Vibrating I pulled away from the door and crouched hands over my ears my breath came in gasps my legs felt weak and my skin was damp with cold sweat the floor trembled and the boards under me L out a sharp crack I clenched my teeth stood up and with one last surge of desperation I slammed my body into the door the doorknob Twisted in my hand the door gave way and I stumbled into the

the corridor the pounding stopped I almost fell to my knees but I forced Myself to stay upright I looked around trying to see by the dim emergency light that flickered at the far end of the hall every door in the corridor was closed and the noise from behind them had vanished my heart was still racing and my clothes were soaked in sweat I took a few unsteady steps toward the direction I had come from I saw the open entrance where I had first walked in I made my way back each step echoing in the silent

hallway The chain on the entry door dangled broken in the middle my hands shook as I pushed the door it opened easily I hurried through it and found myself back on the stairwell the normal Building light was on now that dingy yellow glow my chest felt tight and my breathing was shallow I looked back at the door it was closed but there was no sign of the chain I didn't wait around I ran down the stairs as fast as I could nearly nearly tripping on each step by the time I reached my apartment I was

soaked with sweat and shaking I locked my door and sat on the floor struggling to calm my racing heart I stayed there for what felt like hours hugging my knees trying to convince myself that I hadn't lost my mind I could still feel that cold doorknob in my hand hear that pounding in my ears every hair on my body stood on end whenever I recalled The Whispers my apartment felt small and safe compared to that impossible hallway even Now I don't know what to believe there shouldn't be any space above me there shouldn't be any

Corridor with locked doors but I was there I touched those walls I heard the tapping the chanting the knocking I don't know if it's real or if my mind snapped but every night at midnight I swear I can still hear that low hum in the ceiling and every night I wonder if that door upstairs is still open waiting for me to come back I found out I inherited a Victorian Mansion from an uncle I never met the lawyer called me on a Monday morning and said my name was on the will I signed the papers

a few days later packed up my apartment and drove 6 hours to see the place when I first walked up to the mansion I was struck by how large it looked tall Windows lined the front and and dark spires Rose from the roof the paint on the walls had chipped off in places the front porch creaked under my Feet and I smell damp wood when I pressed my face against the old door I unlocked the door and stepped into a hallway with a high ceiling a single light bulb flickered above me I saw a wide

staircase to my left and a corridor to my right the floorboards groaned with each step I took a moment to catch my breath and set my suitcase down I felt a chill run down my arms even though I wore a jacket the air inside felt colder than the outside air I swallowed and Walked into the main living room which had heavy drapes that blocked out most of the sunlight there was a couch with torn upholstery in the corner and a coffee table covered with dust a fireplace stood against the far wall but it looked like

it hadn't been used in a long time the house felt silent yet I sensed something in the walls like the place wasn't empty the next day I woke up in one of the up stairs bedrooms I had chosen a room that didn't smell too Musty it had a bed frame a mattress and a dresser although everything felt old and unclean I didn't hear any traffic outside because the Mansion was far from town the silence pressed down on me I thought I heard faint tapping Behind the Walls but I couldn't be sure I spent the morning

exploring the dining room had a long table with chairs pushed in at odd angles the kitchen had a non-functioning fridge a stove and cupboards filled with Cobwebs I cleared out enough space on the counter to make myself a sandwich from the groceries I brought after lunch I noticed the hallway felt colder than the living room I thought maybe there was a draft coming in from somewhere I tried to check the windows for cracks but I didn't see any obvious gaps I turned up the small space heater I'd brought with me but it didn't change the

temperature much my fingers felt stiff I rubbed my hands together and moved into The living room to see if that felt any better that space had a different temperature the living room felt cool but not as bitter it was strange but I Shrugged it off old houses can have weird insulation problems still I felt uneasy at night I listened for sounds I lay in bed and waited around midnight I heard a faint rustling noise it came from somewhere near the walls it sounded like someone whispering but I couldn't make out words my name seemed to

form in My head but I thought that was my imagination I flicked on the lamp walked across the room and pressed my ear to the wall the sound stopped I stepped back and my pulse pounded in my ears then a few seconds later I heard it again but this time it seemed to come from a different part of the house I grabbed the flashlight from my nightstand and walked into the hallway it was so dark that my flashlight barely cut through the Shadows my steps echoed I called out is someone there no response I felt

my heart beating I clutched the flashlight and walked back to my bedroom I locked the door behind me even though I felt silly I barely slept that night over the next few days I realized each room had its own climate the living room stayed cool the kitchen felt normal the master bedroom felt drafty and the attic was horribly stuffy I went up there to poke around when I opened the attic door the air felt thick And stale my chest felt tight I turned on the old light hanging from the ceiling I saw trunks boxes and

old furniture piled around I started digging through a chest near the door and found old clothes and papers some were receipts and letters addressed to my uncle that's how I confirmed he used to spend time up there everything smelled of dust I had a hard time breathing so I didn't stay long I got a headache and returned downstairs I wanted to figure out why the house felt so off I thought maybe the wiring or Plumbing had something to do with it I wandered around the first floor checking corners and walls for pipes or vents while

I was in the hallway next to the dining room I heard this weird Clank behind the paneling the noise was soft like metal against wood I pressed my ear to the wall and heard another series of TAPS I knocked on the wall a cold sensation rushed through my body and I I Got goosebumps I couldn't explain why I remember whispering to myself there's nothing behind here but deep down I felt there was something 2 days later I started noticing the corridors felt longer than they had before when I walked down the main hallway I counted

the steps at first it was about 15 Steps from one end to the other but on that day it took me closer to 20 steps I thought maybe I miscounted or got turned around I tried again counting carefully And I got 18 steps I shook my head in frustration I wasn't sure if the house was playing tricks on me or if my mind was I tested a different hallway on the second floor and the same thing happened the distance seemed to shift I felt sweat on my forehead and my mouth went dry I hurried back

to the bedroom and closed the door I sat on the bed for a while breathing hard I wanted to leave but I also wanted to understand what was happening later that afternoon I found a Few loose floorboards in one of the smaller bedrooms on the second floor there was a corner where the boards creaked more than usual I crouched down and pried them up with a flathead screwdriver I found in the old toolbox in the closet under the boards I saw a stack of folders tied together with string I pulled them out and wiped off

a layer of dust each folder had paranormal phenomena stamped on the top inside there were typewritten reports Describing having strange occurrences around the property I saw references to voices in the walls changes in temperature flickering lights and people hearing their names whispered my uncle's name appeared in several of the notes they mentioned that he had tried to contact someone about these events but never got a response some pages had scribbled notes in the margins which described faint outlines of figures in doorways the Handwriting was shaky and some words were crossed out I felt a lump

in my throat as I flipped through the papers I took the folders to the bedroom I was using and started reading through them in order the earliest date I found was from about 10 years earlier the reports mentioned that the phenomenon seemed to intensify whenever new people entered the house there were details about certain rooms having their own atmosphere one of the notes said third Floor Corridor extends without logical explanation observed 10 extra feet on two occasions that matched my experiences another note said said walls emit low frequency sounds that resemble speech I felt my

hands tremble I dropped the folder on the bed then I heard a soft whisper it sounded close as if it was right behind me I spun around but I saw nothing I remembered that the notes said the voices often called the occupant's name my mouth felt dry and I Couldn't swallow for a few seconds that night I stayed up until 2: in the morning reading more of the documents and listening to to every noise occasionally the pipes would groan or the wind would push against a window and I would jerk my head the tension built

in my shoulders and I felt a constant headache forming at my temples the house seemed more active every Creek felt deliberate I kept glancing at the door expecting it to open on its own the Notes mentioned the feeling of being watched especially at night one report read occupant woke to find Corridor door wide open despite locking it before bed I locked my bedroom door twice that night I slid a chair under the doorknob for extra measure in the morning I woke up sweating the air felt hot and heavy in the bedroom even though it had

been chilly before I opened the window to let in a breeze but I only got a faint gust of air I decided to get out of the house For a while I drove into town and stopped at a small Diner I ate breakfast and tried to calm down I kept thinking someone might be watching me from the windows of the Manion but that was impossible still the idea wouldn't leave my head after breakfast I picked up a few supplies a handheld thermometer batteries and extra flashlights I planed to gather evidence so I wouldn't feel like

I was losing my grip on Reality when I got back to the mansion it was still afternoon I walked through each room with the thermometer writing down the temperature the living room stayed around 65° F the kitchen around 6 68 but the hallway between them was only 60 the bedroom upstairs was at 59 which felt cold and uncomfortable the attic registered at 78° which explained why it felt suffocating I recorded all of this in a notebook as I walked around the Floorboards groaned and I kept hearing a faint whisper in the distance it sounded like

my name drawn out slowly my chest tightened each time I heard it I turned Corners fast expecting to see someone but every Corridor looked empty I kept going until I reached a small study on the second floor the door was closed and the handle felt cold under my hand I pushed it open and Shone my flashlight around the windows were covered by thick curtains there was a large desk in the Center and a heavy wooden chair behind it the desk drawers were locked I went to check the built-in bookshelf along the wall most books were

about architecture history or some old reference materials I turned to leave but the door slammed shut right in front of me I jumped back and felt my heart pounding I lunged for the door knob and yanked it at first it didn't budge then after a second try it opened I stepped into the hallway breathing hard I looked Around but no one else was there back in my bedroom I reviewed the reports again my uncle's notes mentioned intense activity in the second floor study exam exactly where I just experienced the door slamming one of the notes

said do not stay in the study alone at night that made me feel sick to my stomach I tossed the folder aside and sat on the edge of the bed my face felt hot and my heartbeat pounded in my ears I realized the whispering from the walls was louder Now and it followed me from room to room I wondered if the Mansion wanted me to leave but there was another possibility in the reports sometimes these events seemed like they wanted to trap the occupant almost like the house needed someone inside I told myself I would

leave the next day if things got worse but that night I heard the whispering grow more insistent it came from behind my headboard it had a breathy quality as if It was pushing through a small Gap in the wall I grabbed the flashlight and swept it across the room the light revealed the peeling wallpaper the dusty floor and the old dresser I saw nothing else yet the whisper continued I got up walked to the wall and pressed my hand against it the surface felt icy I felt my shoulders tense and I had a tightness in

my chest I called out what do you want my voice echoed off the walls I didn't get a real Answer just a faint whisper that might have sounded like my name I felt my stomach churn and I stepped away my foot hit one of the floorboards at an odd angle and it squeaked I thought about those reports hidden under the floor and I felt trapped the next morning I tried to pack my things my plan was to throw everything in my car and drive away but while Gathering my belongings I heard the corridor footsteps I

cracked open the bedroom Door and peered out the hallway seemed to stretch longer than before I counted the doors there should have been three doors on this hallway but I saw four my mouth went dry and I moved slowly toward what looked like an extra door it led to another room that I hadn't noticed before I turned the knob the door opened into a small storage area full of shelves the air inside was stale and I saw old crates stacked in the corner I stepped in to look around then I heard The door slam shut

behind me I rushed back but the knob wouldn't turn I started to panic I banged on the door my heart raced and my breathing grew uneven I pushed and pulled on the knob for what felt like minutes finally the door opened and I stumbled into the hallway my hands were shaking and I felt dizzy I grabbed my suitcase and ran downstairs the corridor seemed normal again with the usual number of doors I didn't waste time checking I threw my suitcase into The trunk of my car and got in the driver's seat my hands were sweaty

on the steering wheel I turned the key in the ignition the engine made a chugging sound and refused to start I tried again nothing I sat there pressing my forehead against the steering wheel trying to stay calm I waited a few minutes tried once more and it started on the third try I pulled out of the driveway my heart pounding the entire time I glanced at the mansion in the rearview mirror The windows looked dark and the spires reached into the sky I felt like the house was watching me I thought I was safe once

I got onto the main road but I couldn't shake the feeling that the Mansion still had a grip on me I heard faint Whispers In My Head my arms felt cold and I gripped the wheel until my Knuckles turned white I wanted to tell someone what I experienced but I didn't have any Clear Proof only those old files my plan was to stay in a motel for A couple of nights I still had the key to the mansion I wasn't sure if I would go back but part of me felt I couldn't escape it even

on the road I swore I could feel the hallway floors groaning under my feet and hear that whisper in the distance for now I'm out but I catch myself checking the Shadows whenever I'm alone in a room I check the walls for strange sounds I keep thinking about those corridors and the different temperatures I imagine those documents Under the floorboards describing everything that happened I see them every time I close my eyes I don't know if the Mansion wants to pull me back or if it's just letting me carry a piece of it wherever I

go all I know is that place is real and it doesn't let go easily I can still feel it whenever I think about it for more than a few seconds it's like my name is still floating in the walls calling me back so far I haven't answered but the pull is There and I can't pretend it's gone I told myself I wouldn't return but I haven't handed over the property to anyone else the lawyers keep asking what I plan to do with it I haven't decided part of me feels feel I should sell it let

someone else figure out its Secrets Another Part Of Me worries about unleashing that place on someone else I don't know if it's safe to abandon it or if it's best to keep it locked up for now it's there and I'm here hoping that The house stays quiet but in the back of my mind I can still hear it and if I listen closely I think it's waiting for me I still remember the moment I realized something was wrong it was late around 11 at night I was standing in my bathroom brushing my teeth like I

always do before bed I leaned forward to spit out the toothpaste and rinse my mouth when I looked back up I caught my reflection blinking it happened half a Second after I did I stood there for a few seconds staring at my own face in the mirror waiting to see if if I had imagined it my eyes were itchy and I felt exhausted my shoulders felt stiff from a day of work so I told myself I was just tired it was probably nothing I turned off the light and went to bed the next morning I

almost forgot about it I woke up around 700 made a quick breakfast and tried not to think about how bad the Coffee tasted my stomach felt tense but I blamed it on my weird sleep the night before I got dressed and went to the bathroom to shave my cheeks felt rough and the skin around my chin was sensitive the fluorescent light buzzed overhead I looked in the mirror shaving cream already on my face I tried to ignore the slight unease in my chest I glanced at my eyes they looked a bit red my reflection seemed

normal at first but I remembered what happened the night Before so I deliberately blinked one eye just to check my reflection blinked back at the exact same time I exhaled in relief everything seemed aligned I told myself that I had just been too exhausted to see straight the night before I went about my day I drove to work and the hum of the engine put me in a fog at every red light I glanced at the rear view mirror I caught my own eyes looking back but nothing was out of the ordinary when I got

to the office I Felt silly about the entire thing still at lunch I caught myself staring staring at the window in front of my table the reflection of my face against the glass was faint but I kept waiting for it to move on its own it didn't I had a sandwich and tried to refocus on normal life I got home that evening around 600 my apartment was stuffy so I opened a window the sun was starting to set creating a slight glare on the glass I paused for a second when I saw my Reflection the

light was hitting it in a strange way my reflections eyes appeared darker than mine and the shape of my mouth seemed off my actual mouth was relaxed but the mouth in the window looked a bit tense like it was on the verge of speaking my skin felt cold I turned away and headed to the kitchen I forced myself to ignore that flash of weirdness I prepared a quick dinner my utensils clanked against the plate and the noise felt louder than usual when I Reached for a knife I saw a distorted version of my face in

the metal my stomach Twisted the reflection in the knife looked like it was frowning my lips were tight in the reflection but I wasn't frowning with my actual face my heart gave a quick jolt in my chest I set the Knife Down took a breath and walked away from the kitchen I didn't feel hungry after that my head was pounding and I felt this heaviness in my arms I wanted to shake off the Fear but it was creeping in the air in my apartment felt St stale I turned on the TV in the living room

to distract myself the noise helped a bit after a while I convinced myself that I just needed sleep it was probably stress or maybe I hadn't been drinking enough water still I felt uneasy that night I lay in bed half awake half asleep the clock on my nightstand read 2:14 a.m. my eyes burned and my throat felt dry I heard a dull Drip from the bathroom faucet drip drip drip the slow Rhythm was driving me crazy so I got up I walked to the bathroom in the dark I felt along the wall for the switch

my fingers trembled a bit when the light flicked on I froze my reflection in the bathroom mirror stood staring back at me but it seemed like the eyes were locked onto me even before the light came on it was like it was already looking in my direction waiting my heart thumped in my chest my Reflections face looked calm but I could feel my own face tensing my breath was shallow I shut off the faucet and stared at the mirror for a long moment waiting for it to do something else it didn't I left the bathroom

light on when I went back to bed over the next few days I started noticing more and more odd details when I passed by any reflective surface I would pause to check sometimes I'd see my reflection in the window and the expression would be slightly off one Time while I was washing dishes I glanced at the reflection of my face in the soapy water it looked distorted but for a second I was sure I saw the reflection Grimace my heart pounded and I felt a tingling sensation in my arms I rinsed the dishes fast and

tried to catch my breath every time it happened I told myself it was a trick of the light or a product of my anxious mind but late at night when the apartment was quiet I couldn't help but think about it I'd Walk around double-checking the locks on the doors and windows my stomach would churn and I'd find my palms sweaty I tried to fall asleep with the TV on so I wouldn't think about what might be happening in the darkness one night I woke up to use the bathroom again the moment I switched on the

light I heard a faint tap on the mirror it was like a fingernail tapping on glass I froze in place my entire body felt stiff the tap lasted for about 2 seconds then stopped I couldn't bring myself to move closer to the mirror I stood there heart racing breathing fast my hands felt damp and there was this shiver running through my shoulders I slowly backed out of the bathroom and left the light on I couldn't sleep after that I sat in my living room feeling my heart pound in my chest staring at the TV without

paying attention to what was on the next morning I noticed something new it wasn't just in my bathroom mirror Anymore my reflection was appearing in different mirrors or reflective surfaces around my apartment at the same time I'd walk into the bedroom and a reflection would be waiting on the shiny part of my closet door then I'd walk to the kitchen and I'd see another one in the oven door each one looked a bit different from the others some looked angry some looked curious some looked like they were studying me my chest tightened every time I

saw a new reflection I could feel Sweat forming on my forehead and my hand hands would Shake sometimes I'd run back into the living room just to get away from them I tried covering some of the mirrors I draped a sheet over the big mirror in my hallway that helped a little but I couldn't get rid of the windows or the glass in the bathroom and even if I covered everything there were still things like spoons knives phone screens or anything else that had a shiny surface Every Time I Saw My Reflection it was slightly

different I saw one reflection that had a small smile that I definitely wasn't making with my actual face another time I saw a reflection with wider eyes like it was alarmed or excited the sense of being watched got stronger I started feeling like they were all around me waiting for me to slip up I checked the edges of the mirrors for any kind of gaps or Illusions I pressed my fingertips against the glass feeling the cool Surface I tried to see if the reflection would push back of course it didn't happen when I was looking

for it but later when I was in bed or sitting on the couch I'd get this shiver down my spine it felt like I was being observed from somewhere else in the apartment I began to wonder if I was losing my mind I drank more coffee than usual hoping to stay alert my eyes felt gritty and my head hurt most of the time work became a blur I would pretend everything was Normal during the day then come home to this silent oppressive tension in my apartment one evening I heard heard what sounded like a faint

whisper coming from the bathroom I turned on every light in the place grabbed a flashlight from my kitchen drawer and headed to the bathroom I found nothing except my own reflection but it looked like the face in the mirror was about to speak my stomach churned and I felt short of breath I slammed the bathroom door shut I put a chair against it as if that would stop anything from coming out I didn't know what else to do by the time the next week started I wasn't sleeping well at all my eyes had dark circles

and my hands shook whenever I tried to do normal tasks like typing on my computer or making a sandwich the reflections seemed more active in the evenings I would walk into the kitchen and I'd catch one of them staring at me in the toaster the face would look intense like It was analyzing me then I'd leave the kitchen and walk to the living room and I'd see another reflection in the TV screen almost pressing up against the surface like it was trying to get closer every time my chest felt tighter my breathing grew shallow and

my mind raced the absolute worst moment so far happened a few nights ago I was sitting on my couch trying to watch some late night talk show I kept the volume High I was trying to ignore all the reflective Surfaces suddenly my living room window rattled I jumped to my feet heart pounding I stared at the window expecting to see a branch or maybe the wind pushing against it but the glass was perfectly still after that single rattle then I saw my own reflection this one had a strange grin just a slight curve of the

lips its eyes were wide and fixed on me I felt sweat roll down the back of my neck I looked at my actual face in the reflection to see if I was Somehow grinning but my mouth was just parted in shock the reflections grin stayed for a few seconds then vanished like it relaxed into a neutral expression my entire body felt cold my legs felt shaky I couldn't bring myself to step closer to the window it was like I half expected a hand to reach out and pull me into the glass I ran into my

bedroom and shut the door I stood there my heart pounding pressing my forehead against The wall my chest felt tight and my breathing was quick I felt pinned down by the fear that reflection looked separate from me like it had its own thoughts now every time I pass a mirror or any surface that shows my face I wonder which version of me is looking back I see glimpses of different Expressions each with a subtle difference in the eyes or the way the lips form I feel like these Reflections are circling me Studying me waiting for

a chance to do something I worry that one might step out of the mirror and replace me the thought makes my stomach ache my arms tense up whenever I consider it I double check every mirror looking for signs of movement that doesn't match mine I've tried removing anything reflective from the apartment but I can't remove everything spoons faucets window glass phone screens all of these keep giving me glimpses of those other versions of Me I feel like I'm trapped in my own home and I don't know how to fight against a reflection I've tried cleaning

the mirrors hoping the act of wiping them down would make them normal again I tried leaving the lights on all night so I can't see anything clearly in the dark Nothing Stops it there are always more surfaces more angles more moments when I turn the corner and catch a different face staring back at me sometimes I stand in front of the bathroom mirror And just watch I wait for the reflection to do something my shoulders feel stiff and my mouth goes dry after a minute or two my reflection seems normal then out of nowhere I'll

see a slight delay in the blink my heart will jump my stomach will clench sometimes I hear a faint squeak of the floor behind me but when I turn nothing is there then I whip my head back to the mirror and the reflection is just standing there matching me again I Can't sleep at night I keep thinking one of these Reflections might find a way out I don't know how that could happen but the idea gets stuck in my head my pulse races when I think about the possibility I imagine waking up in the middle

of the night and seeing another version of me standing at the foot of the bed my jaw tightens every time that thought crosses my mind I wish I could stop this but I don't know how I don't even know if it's real or if I'm going Crazy from exhaustion still I can't ignore what I see each reflection has a different expression and they all seem determined in some way sometimes it feels like they're communicating with each other coordinating through the glass surfaces while I'm left on this side frantic and unsure I can't call anyone for

help because I can't explain this without sounding insane and I'm too scared to let anyone come over and see me like This for now I just keep my distance from mirrors whenever possible I take the fastest showers I can I cover most of the windows after Sunset I sleep with a small lamp on in the bedroom even though the soft glow of the lamp sometimes creates faint Reflections on the polished floor I try not to look at them I lie in bed hearing my heartbeat in my my ears sometimes I hear tapping or light scratches

on mirrors down the hall I Stay frozen in place hoping it will stop eventually it does but then I'm left with a pounding headache and a sense of dread that's where things stand right now I'm constantly on edge with sweat on my brow and a tightness in my chest every day I wonder if this will be the day when one of those Reflections crosses the line and replaces me the thought makes me tremble I can't decide which is worse the possibility that these Reflections are real or the Possibility that I'm imagining it all either way

I'm trapped I can't escape my own face it's everywhere I look in every glossy surface blinking slightly too late or smiling when I'm not and each time I see it my heart hammers with fear that maybe one of them will finally step through the glass and take my place I'll never forget the moment I saw those old portraits for sale at the auction they were stacked in a corner the frames covered in dust the paint chipped around The edges something about them made me pause the auction room was loud and people rushed around looking for

antiques or Bargains but my attention stayed on that pile of portraits I felt an odd pull I didn't ask anyone for advice and I didn't think about it too long I just bid on them without hesitation I wanted them for my living room I wanted something that would give a different feel to my home something authentic the price wasn't high so I Made the purchase I didn't realize how much my life would change because of those paintings the first day I set them up in my living room I noticed little details there were about 10

portraits each showing a different person in old-fashioned clothes some had Stern faces and others looked neutral the backgrounds were dark the frames looked handmade I wiped off the dust and hung them in a neat line on the largest wall I thought they looked interesting so I didn't question why they had been left in that corner at the auction I just assumed they were old family portraits from some estate sale the living room felt different with them I liked that at first it was a new atmosphere I had friends come over that first week and they

said the paintings gave the room an old time Vibe about a week later I was sitting in the living room with the lights dimmed sipping coffee I glanced At one of the portraits I remember the subject was an older man with a trimmed beard and very sharp eyes the day I bought it his expression had seemed almost blank but that night it looked serious almost angry his eyebrows were tilted inward like he was irritated about something I thought it was just my imagination maybe the lighting made it appear that way I Shrugged it off and

went to bed I didn't give it much thought the next morning I walked into The living room to open the curtains I couldn't shake the feeling that the painting seemed different again the older man's beard looked slightly longer and his face had more wrinkles another portrait a woman with her hair pinned up now seemed to have more lines around her eyes I stood there for a while trying to figure out if it was the result of dust or a trick of the light my stomach felt uneasy I closed the curtains partway and decided I'd check

them again later I Told myself it was nothing but it kept happening every time I sat down in that room I had this creeping Sensation that the Figures were aging their faces grew more lined their eyes more sunken it was subtle at first but then it became obvious I started seeing clear differences in the shape of their mouths the drooping of their eyelids and the way they seemed to glare back at me I avoided looking at them directly for a few days but I could still sense them in My peripheral vision it felt like they

were watching me sometimes in the quiet of the night I felt a cold sweat break out on my forehead I'd stare at the portraits for too long and my heart would pound in my ears I kept wondering if I should take them down and toss them but something stopped me I felt compelled to keep them on the wall I don't know why after after about 2 weeks I noticed a definite change in the eyes of each portrait there was a shine in Them a strange brightness when the lights in the room were dim their eyes

seemed to reflect any bit of light almost like animals in the dark that made me anxious my hands would Shake if I stood too close and I would step back to keep some distance yet I still didn't remove them from the wall instead I convinced myself that I just needed to understand what was going on I started taking photos on my phone every day trying to compare them in the photos the Differences were clear new wrinkles new lines sharper Expressions I had proof that these portraits weren't staying the same I felt a knot in my

stomach every time I flipped through the pictures one night I decided to check the back of one of the frames I wanted to see if there was any date or artist name that might explain why these paintings looked so strange I pulled down the portrait of a woman with a tight bun in her hair she was the one whose eyes seemed to follow Me everywhere I went in the room the frame felt rough and splintered at the edges when I turned it over I saw a small tiar in the paper backing I lifted the torn

piece carefully and found a single sheet of paper tucked inside folded several times my hands shook more when I realized there was some sort of code or Cipher on it it was a piece of text full of strange symbols and words I didn't understand it mentioned entrapment and souls and there was a Single phrase in normal script that said something about binding a person's Essence to a painted image I felt nauseous reading it I tried to calm down I put the painting back on the wall and placed the note on my kitchen table my mind

raced with possibilities was this some joke was it a hoax or some occult nonsense I wanted answers but I didn't know where to start I began searching online for references to curses and souls trapped in portraits I came across Old stories about painters who believed they could capture a person's spirit in a painting but everything seemed vague I didn't find anything about the exact symbols in the note over the next few days I kept investigating I looked at each painting and checked behind the frames three more paintings had similar notes different patterns but the same

references to souls curses and something about the risk of turning into a portrait if you Spent too much time around them my Palms got clammy every time I read the lines my breath would catch in my throat I started to sleep with all the lights on but I still jumped at every sound in the night sometimes late in the evening I'd sit on my couch staring at those faces the people in the portraits looked older than before some had hair thinning out others had deep lines around their mouths like they'd been frowning for years their

eyes had that odd glow it Felt like I was being judged I imagined them seeing every move I I made every expression on my face I heard the floor Creak once or twice when I was completely still and I almost convinced myself it was one of them stepping out of the frame I know that sounds crazy but I could feel my body tensing up ready to run at one point I tried to talk myself down maybe it was just paint reacting to changes in humidity or temperature maybe I was overreacting Because I read those notes

but I couldn't ignore the evidence the photos on my phone showed that each portrait was changing in ways that didn't make any sense and my own gut told me I wasn't imagining it something was very wrong my anxiety grew so much that I started avoiding my living room entirely I'd make excuses to stay in my bedroom or go out for a walk I'd come home late from work to reduce the amount of time spent in that room but the few Minutes I did spend there felt suffocating I'd feel a tightness in my chest my stomach

churned my heart rate sped up and I would try not to look at the wall but no matter where I stood I could sense their eyes on me one evening I got home from work and found the living room lights flickering there was no storm and the rest of the house lights were fine only the lamps in the living room flickered the portraits seemed to look even more Intense the older man with the beard had an angry scowl and I swear I saw new streaks of gray in his hair another painting a woman in a

lace collar had deeper Shadows under her eyes I felt a chill on my arms and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up I turned on every lamp in the house but that didn't make me feel any safer I picked up the notes again trying to figure out if there was any mention of reversing the curse or destroying it the text was Mostly cryptic I saw references to a ritual involving a mirror a candle and blood but I didn't want to do anything that extreme I didn't know if it would make things worse

still I thought about it I paced around my kitchen holding the papers my mind spinning with worry I felt light-headed and had to sit down as I studied the text more I realized it said something about the Observer becoming the observed there was a line That implied anyone who owned the portraits could end up trapped if they spent too long in their presence it said the paintings would feed off the owner's energy my throat went dry I felt my pulse hammering in my neck I couldn't stand the idea of turning into a painting I pictured

myself stuck inside a frame Aging in front of someone else my stomach Twisted I couldn't let that happen I decided to remove the paintings from the wall I grabbed a large box from The garage and set it down next to my couch I took down the first portrait the older man with the beard as soon as I lifted it I felt a strange pressure in my chest my arms felt heavy I started to sweat I carried it to the Box careful not to look at his face I was worried I might see him move in

my peripheral vision then I went back for the others one by one pulling them off the wall each time I did I felt that strange heaviness I put them all in the box and Closed the lid I felt a small sense of relief but it wasn't enough I set the Box in a corner of my garage and covered it with an old blanket I locked to the garage door behind me my nerves were still raw but I felt better not seeing those eyes every time I walked into the living room that night I slept a

little easier though I still woke up twice in a sweat Imagining the paintings were in my bedroom but the next morning my pulse sped up when I noticed faint footprints On the garage floor they were small more like smears than clear shoe Prints but they LED from the box toward the door the door was still locked and I found no one outside I had no explanation for it I rubbed my forehead trying to calm down telling myself it might have been my own Footprints from the previous night but I wasn't sure for the next week

I kept the paintings in the garage and the living room felt empty I actually preferred it that way I had trouble relaxing though Because I still felt uneasy I kept glancing at the garage door half expecting to see someone or something standing there one night curiosity got the better of me I unlocked the door and stepped inside flicking on the overhead light the blanket was still over the box I heard a soft creaking sound like wood rubbing against wood my eyes darted around but I saw nothing move I lifted the blanket and opened the box

just to check the Portraits were all there stacked in the same order I'd placed them but each face was more aged the man with the beard had deep Hollows under his eyes his expression was pure anger the woman woman with the bun looked Furious her eyes nearly glowing under the garage light my heart pounded so hard that I actually gasped for air I slammed the Box shut and stumbled back I locked the garage door again determined not to open it anymore now I'm stuck I want to get Rid of them but I also worry about

passing this problem on to somebody else the notes mention that if you destroy the paintings the wrong way you could trigger a worse consequence I don't know if that's true or not but I don't want to risk it so here I am living in constant tension the living room is empty and I avoid the garage as much as I can I've thought about looking for someone who understands these curses maybe an expert In weird artifacts but I'm afraid of what they'll say or what I might have to do there's a lingering fear that this curse

has already marked me I still have that slight urge to open the box a part of me wants to keep watching the change es like I'm drawn to them I can't explain it my hands shake when I imagine peeling back the blanket and seeing how much older they look today my heart races when I recall the text about souls being Trapped in portraits and I wonder if each day that I wait I'm getting closer to joining them my reflection in the mirror sometimes looks a bit tired and I have new lines around my eyes that

I don't remember having before that's where things stand the pain paintings are locked in my garage hidden from view but not from my thoughts I feel a constant weight on my chest whenever I think about them I don't have a final solution I just have a deep gnawing Worry that every hour spent near them or even owning them might pull me closer to whatever curse is bound to those portraits I'm telling you this because I don't know what else to do I have these cryptic notes on my kitchen table and a box of cursed portraits

in my garage and I'm stuck in this Li of Fear Part of Me hopes it's all in my head but the other part believes I'm looking at something real and dangerous if I don't find a way to break This curse I'm afraid I'll eventually see my own face in one of those frames staring back at me with the same glow in my eyes and that thought makes it hard to breathe I don't know what my next step is but I know I can't ignore this forever I saw the cabin when I was about 2 hours

into my hike the trees were Tangled in a way that made it hard to see more than a few feet ahead and the air felt damp against my skin I wasn't looking for any Abandoned structure I just wanted some fresh air and a break from my usual routine but something about that rundown roof poking out from behind the branches caught my eye the roof had holes in it I noticed fallen leaves piled on top of of rotted shingles I stopped stood there and took a moment to figure out if it was safe to get closer

my gut tightened the cabin looked like it didn't belong in that spot yet I couldn't ignore it I pushed a Few low hanging limbs aside and approached the walls were made of old logs that smelled like wet Moss I saw strips of peeling paint but I couldn't figure out what color it used to be the front door leaned to one side probably because the hint es were rusted there was no lock I felt an itch in my throat part of me wanted to leave it alone and move on with the hike but curiosity took over

I tested the door and it creaked open without a fight inside the light Was weak the place smelled of Earth and stale air I squinted to see if there were any animals or signs of recent activity cobweb stretched across the corners and a thin layer of dust covered most surfaces a broken chair sat near a small table I took a few careful steps testing each floorboard they groaned but held my weight I swept my flashlight beam around and saw shelves against the wall with random items a rusty Lantern a few empty cans and a thick

leatherbound Book the book looked older than anything else in there it had a layer of dust that made my nose itch I slid it off the shelf and blew on it dust scattered in the air making me cough I flicked through the pages the handwriting was a little shaky like someone wrote it in a hurry some words were smudged it mentioned a lot about lights at night it talked about Whispers that came from behind the trees there was a whole page on how these lights Floated around after midnight sometimes in groups the writer said they

heard voices that didn't sound human the more I read the colder I felt like the temperature in the cabin dropped a few degrees the last entry said something about feeling watched but the pages were incomplete at the end as if the writer never finished I thought about leaving right then my nerves were on edge but I also felt a pull like I needed to see if the diary was telling the truth or if The person who wrote it just imagined things after a few minutes I decided I'd spend one night in that cabin if nothing

happened I'd call it a weird experience and go home I gathered some drywood from outside found an old fireplace and managed to start a small fire the smoke went up through a cracked chimney pipe it wasn't cozy but it provided enough heat to keep me from shivering I unrolled my sleeping bag near the fireplace by then it was late afternoon So I had some time before Sundown I checked my phone but there was no signal I had a small stash of snacks and some water I set them on the table and tried to make myself

comfortable as Darkness fell I noticed how quiet the place became there were no typical forest sounds like crickets or nocturnal an animal calling out the silence pressed down on me my ears felt strained from trying to pick up any little noise I looked out the window and saw a stretch Of trees in front of the cabin the Moonlight filtered through but it wasn't bright Shadows covered most of the ground I sat on the floor near the fire reading more of the Diary it had repeated mentions of a certain time midnight the writer claimed that's when

the lights became most active the wind outside started to pick up rustling the branches around 11: I heard a dull thud against the cabin wall like something hitting the wood I jumped to my feet and Aimed my flashlight at the spot I didn't see any hole or Mark maybe a branch hit the side my heart was pounding I tried to calm down telling myself it was probably just the wind a little before midnight I felt a chill drift through the cabin even though the fire was still going my breath felt colder in my chest I

looked toward the window and saw the branches swaying but I also thought I saw a slight movement of light in the distance it was faint almost like a glow I couldn't tell if it was just the Moonlight hitting something reflective I decided to stay put and watch my stomach felt tight my Palms were sweaty I wiped them on my jeans at midnight a sudden gust of wind whipped around the cabin the fire flickered nearly going out the door rattled and the windows shook a bit then I heard voices it was more like a chorus of

soft Moon stretched out into something that sounded like a strange Language I strained my ears but I couldn't make out any words the voices were rhythmic like a distant chanting I stood up slowly my knees tense I grabbed my flashlight and walked to the window I pressed my face close to the glass trying to see if there were people out there but I saw only darkness and a few swaying branches the whispering continued then faded for a moment and then returned from another Direction circling the cabin I turned off my Flashlight for a few seconds

hoping my eyes would adjust and give me a better view outside my heart was thumping so hard I could hear blood rushing in my ears I felt a tingle run down my spine every hair on my arm stood up my mind raced I thought about heading out grabbing my things and leaving but I also couldn't shake my curiosity I wanted to see if the lights would appear the way the diary described then I caught a glimpse of a Flickering glow through the gaps in the trees it was to my left I moved to that side

of the cabin stepping carefully on the creaky floor the chanting grew louder the words if they were words had no meaning for me they sounded rough not like any language I recognized I propped myself against the wall and peaked through a small crack in the wooden boards I saw something faint it was like several small orbs of light floating in a slow pattern among the trees they Weren't bright enough to illuminate the entire area but they stood out against the darkness I counted at least four or five of them they drifted left then right as

if circling my stomach churned I felt sweat trickle down my temples I couldn't look away the chanting stopped replaced by a heavy silence I was breathing through my mouth because my nose was clogged with the heavy smell of old wood and Ashes from the Fireplace my thoughts raced with possibilities I wondered if someone was playing a prank but the diary said this had happened before also there was no obvious source for lights like that they seemed to move too freely almost floating without any beams or wires I stepped back and stared at the fire the

the Flames were low now mostly orange Embers I considered stoking it but I was too focused on the sounds and lights outside suddenly the chanting started Again this time coming from the right side of the cabin I ran to that window it was the same glow now on that side the lights floated closer then pulled back as if testing something the wind outside had died down so the cabin was still except for those voices that Rose and fell I felt my chest tightened my breathing grew shallow I clutched the edge of the window sill I

wanted a better view but there wasn't enough Moonlight I glanced at the cabin door it Looked fragile like something could kick it open without much effort I felt a surge of anxiety because I realized I had nothing to barricade it with I had a small knife in my backpack but that wasn't going to help against something I couldn't even see clearly the voices moved closer they sounded like they were right outside the front door my Palms were sweating again and a throb settled behind my eyes I backed away from the window and grabbed the diary

off the Table I felt like I needed to hold on to something that connected me to whoever wrote those entries the chanting filled the air and then as suddenly as it had started it stopped silence rushed in and my ears rang from the absence of sound I stood there for a full minute unable to move then I heard it a gentle scraping sound against the wall near the fireplace it was light at first like fabric brushing wood but then it dragged slowly like someone's hand moving across The logs my heart hammered I shined my flashlight

at the fireplace but saw nothing the scraping continued for a few more seconds then stopped I realized I was trembling my legs felt weak I started to think about how to get out of the cabin without getting caught up in whatever was outside but the lights were still there drifting among the trees I didn't want to step outside and walk straight into them I paced in a small circle swallowing repeatedly because my Throat felt bone dry the air inside the cabin seemed stale and heavier than before then I felt a presence it was like standing

close to someone but there was no one in my line of sight the sensation weighed on me making the space around me feel crowded I felt my skin prickle I shown the flashlight around looking for any shape or Shadow I saw nothing unusual just the old furniture and dust Moes in the beam of light but the feeling didn't go away my neck Tingled my shoulders tensed up I took a couple of steps backward and accidentally knocked over the broken chair it crashed to the floor echoing in the silence right after that crash a whisper Rose

near my ear it wasn't a word I recognized it was a single hiss of breath like something trying to speak close to my face the heat drained from my body my lungs tightened I spun around brandishing my flashlight the air behind Me was empty but I sensed movement like something retreating I stumbled back toward the fireplace my chest was heaving I felt trapped I kept hearing the faint Echoes of that Whisper In My Head time felt distorted I looked at my watch but it was hard to focus it was around 12:30 or so but I

might have misread the chanting started up again more distant this time the lights outside seemed to spread out I checked the front window and saw them moving Deeper into the woods the chanting followed them I heard the faint hum of those unknown words drifting away for a moment I considered making a dash for it but I didn't trust my legs to hold me I felt exhausted from The Surge of adrenaline I slumped against the wall and forced myself to breathe in and out slowly my pulse pounded in my ears the cabin was quiet again except

for the crackle of d Embers in the fireplace the presence I felt before was still there But weaker I tried to focus on logical steps I told myself to wait until the Lights Went far enough away then gather my gear and leave before Sunrise I waited for about 15 minutes though it felt longer the chanting faded until I couldn't hear it at all the wind outside remained calm I didn't see the lights anymore my body still felt tense but I decided I couldn't stay in that cabin another minute I stuffed the diary into my backpack

rolled up my sleeping Bag and stepped quietly to the door I opened it an inch and peered out the trees looked normal again just Silhouettes in the night no floating orbs no strange voices I slipped out making sure the door didn't slam the ground outside was soft and damp my boots sank into the layer of decaying leaves my flashlight revealed a narrow path I walked as quickly as I could without making too much noise I kept glancing over my shoulder expecting to See orbs following me or to hear those voices again the forest felt eerily

silent but at least I wasn't hearing chanting I pressed on my heart pounding from fear and the strain of hiking in near Darkness after a while the path opened up a bit I felt a slight breeze against my face I took that as a good sign I kept moving until the sky started to lighten my legs achd and my shoulders felt sore from clenching them but I Didn't stop I just wanted distance between me and that cabin when the Sun finally came up I found a small clearing I rested there dropping my pack to the

ground I wiped sweat off my forehead my mind kept replaying the chanting those floating lights and the feeling that someone was right behind me I had no proof except for the diary in my bag but I knew what I I experienced was real enough to Rattle me I never heard anything else like that for the rest of My time in the forest eventually I made it back to my car and drove away I still have that diary sometimes I'll open it and read a passage or two then quickly shove it back on a shelf because

it brings back the tension in my chest I haven't shared much about this with other people I don't need anyone calling me delusional or insisting I go back there I know what I heard and I know what I saw and that's enough for me I don't care if there's an Explanation I'm not going back to find out I still remember the moment I tore away that first chunk of rotten wood in my basement it felt like ripping open the skin of the house exposing something I was never meant to see there was a door behind

the debris and it looked sealed from the inside I'd never noticed that outline before and I'd been down in that basement a thousand times the discovery felt wrong like I'd stepped over a line I shouldn't have crossed I Couldn't just ignore it though I had already started a renovation project in the house and this door demanded attention that was how it all began and it's still unfolding in ways I can't fully explain I'm a regular guy I'm not a believer in the Supernatural and I've always liked to fix things myself this house is old and

the basement has always been damp and cramped but I never felt uneasy down there until I found that door it was hidden behind layers of Plywood and cement at first I thought maybe there was an old storage room that had been closed off the shape of the door was faint under the wood I noticed the edges because there was a slight Gap near the bottom when I pressed my hand against the area it flexed a bit almost as if there was hollow space behind it the basement floor looked normal so I assumed it was just

an unused compartment on the first day I used a crowbar to yank at the boards they were Nailed in deeper than I expected I had to hammer the Crowbar hard to loosen them my arms were shaking from the effort and I was cursing under my breath when the first board popped free a Dusty odor came out my eyes watered from it the stench reminded me of stale air trapped for too long I coughed and waved my hand in front of my nose I kept going the because I wanted to see what was behind all this

when I finally got all the wood off I saw a thick layer of old Cement cracked in places with a faint outline of a door shape the handle looked battered like it had been hammered from the other side my flashlight showed chipped paint and rust the cement felt cold to the touch I tried to chip away at it with a chisel and a hammer but it was difficult pieces flaked off in small chunks and dust filled the air I I thought this might be a big project but I was determined to open it at first

I didn't notice any odd Sounds I was busy hitting the Chisel listening to the echo of metal against concrete but that night I stayed up until around midnight scanning through online forums about old house renovations then I heard something from the basement it was a low almost rhythmic noise it reminded me of someone breathing in short bursts I froze at my desk holding my breath to see if it was just the house settling but the noise continued it sounded wet labored my Stomach tightened and I felt a pulse of tension in my chest I thought

maybe an animal was trapped down there like a raccoon or something I decided to check it out in the morning the next day I went downstairs with a heavier hammer and a bigger chisel planning to break more of the cement I kept glancing at the door half expecting it to move on its own that breathing sound from the night before was stuck in my mind I felt stupid for feeling scared but I did my Hands trembled a bit when I slid the Chisel into the crack I hammered at the cement until my arms were sore

and the basement filled with dust when I took a step back to see my progress I realized the door was more visible now the edges were almost free of cement showing dark wood or metal honestly it was hard to tell what it was made of under the grime but it was definitely a door sealed from the inside no hinges on my side no lock I could see it was as if whoever built It wanted to keep something inside or keep something out as I wiped the sweat from my forehead I noticed a low vibration under

my feet it was subtle but it felt like a trembling in the foundation I paused and held my breath listening the air felt thick and my heart rate picked up I told myself it was just the furnace kicking on or maybe a truck passing by outside but the next night around the same time as before I heard those same breaths they sounded Louder it was as if something was leaning right against the door gasping for air my body stiffened I couldn't sleep I kept picturing that door in the basement the chiseled edges and the cold

cement I was determined not to be spooked by weird sounds so I tried to break down the remaining cement a couple of nights later that's when strange things started happening to my tools the first incident occurred when I set my chisel down on a small table in The basement I left to get a drink of water upstairs when I came back the Chisel was gone I checked everywhere even though there weren't many places for it to roll or fall the basement floor was clear and I hadn't put the Chisel back in my toolbox it just

vanished I told myself I must have misplaced it so I used a different chisel later I found the missing chisel in a corner on the other side of the basement I had no memory of putting it There I tried to ignore that but the following evening while I was hammering at a stubborn chunk of cement the Hammer's Metal Head snapped clean off the handle I almost hit my knee I heard the Clank of the metal on the floor and I nearly lost my balance I checked the hammer it didn't look like it was worn enough

to break I muttered a series of curses but I grabbed another tool and kept going every blow felt heavier than usual the basement seemed to hum like There was an energy resonating from inside that door my Palms were sweaty and I felt short of breath then a real shock came I slammed my crowbar against the last big piece of cement and the entire house shook it wasn't a standard vibration the walls in the basement rattled and I saw dust float down from the ceiling I dropped the Crowbar my ears rang it felt like I hit

a live wire or some source of power I stumbled back trying to regain my Balance the air seemed to press down on me making my chest feel tight I couldn't hear any normal house noises it was dead silent except for my own fast breathing that night I lay in bed and felt Tremors under the floor every few minutes my heart pounded with each tiny Shake I didn't sleep well my mind raced with thoughts of what could be behind that door I told myself it might be some kind of old drainage system or hidden piping but

the rhythmic breath-like sounds Didn't fit any explanation sometimes I wanted to call someone maybe a contractor or a friend but I felt embarrassed I didn't want to sound unhinged plus I was worried about letting anyone else into that space it was my house and I felt weirdly responsible for what was happening the next morning I decided to take a more aggressive approach I brought down a bigger sled Hammer I wanted to break off The rest of the cement and pry that door open I put on a dust mask and started swinging each blow echoed louder

than before my arms grew sore and I had to stop to catch my breath after about 15 minutes enough of the cement broke away to reveal almost the entire surface of the door it had deep scratches across it as though someone or something had tried to claw its way out that discovery made my stomach churn I ran my hand across the mark They were uneven and dug into the material it freaked me out but I wouldn't back down I set my stance swung the sledgehammer and aimed at the center the moment I struck the door

an intense vibration coursed through the basement It Felt Like An Earthquake centered in my Foundation shelves rattled and tools fell to the floor I lost my grip on the sledgehammer and it slid away from me my legs wobbled then I heard a deep groan from from behind the door it sounded Like a huge lung filling and deflating my stomach dropped I scrambled to pick up my sledg hammer but it was burning hot and I couldn't hold it I had no idea why it got so hot in a matter of seconds I tried to grab it

again using an Old Rag but by that time the door started to pulse like a heartbeating I backed away sweat dripping down my face my mind was racing with a million questions but I kept moving step by step until I reached the stair St my heart Pounded and my hand shook when I reached the top I slammed the basement door and locked it even though it was just my own house I sat down on the floor trying to slow my breathing my shirt was soaked my ears still rang from the vibrations I felt like something

was punishing me for hitting that door it was guarding itself hours later I forced myself to go back down I needed to see if the door was still pulsing I opened the basement door carefully the light Was still on I walked down the steps my knees shaky the basement was quiet except for a low hum that seemed to come from the walls I approached the door slowly it was still closed no sign of cracks or openings I noticed my sledgehammer near the wall where I dropped it I used my boot to push it and it

wasn't hot anymore so I picked it up and examined it the head looked warped like it had heated up and softened in places I gripped ripped it tight but I Didn't dare swing it again that night I decided to wait a couple of days before trying anything else but the nights were horrible I heard the breathing sounds again more urgent like Angry panting the basement door upstairs rattled sometimes in the middle of the night each rattle made my skin break out in Goosebumps my chest got tight and I would jump out of bed rush over

and stand there listening sometimes everything would go Quiet other times I heard muffled thumps as if something was pushing on the inside of that hidden door I could feel an icy tension in the pit of my stomach I just wanted to make it stop but I was too scared to go back down on my own at 3:00 in the morning after those two days I resolved to do one more attempt I bought a metal cutting saw and a fresh set of power tools I was going to slice through that door if it killed me late

in the afternoon I set up a lamp in Front of it to get a clear view I touched the surface of the door with my fingertips and it felt like it was gently vibrating under the wood or metal I pressed harder and heard a faint Hollow thump from the other side my pulse raced but I steadied myself and began to cut Sparks flew as the blade met the door and the noise was deafening I grit my teeth pressing forward almost immediately the basement floor shook I felt it through my boots my saw started To jam

and the blade snapped flying across the room I jumped back almost dropping the saw a deep Rumble echoed behind the door and I felt something shift inside the wall I smelled something foul seeping through a crack near the frame like rancid meat I staggered back swallowing down the urge to puke I realized my entire body was shaking and my throat felt dry I went up the stairs with my heart pounding and then for a few seconds I thought about Selling the house or just abandoning it but that's ridiculous it's my place I still felt a

strange obligation to deal with this myself no matter how terrifying it was I wasn't going to let a sealed door run me out of my own home that night the vibrations got worse the walls in the basement made creaking sounds like they were straining against some kind of pressure I worried the foundation might crack I could feel the pulses in my feet as I walked around the First floor sometimes pictures on the wall would Shake and small objects on shelves would rattle my breathing got shallow and my mouth felt dry I paced around the living

room jumping at every little noise I switched on every light the basement door rattled in its frame and I just stared at it my hands were sweaty and my heart pounded so hard that I thought I might pass out I realized I needed a break from the house so I took a drive around the Neighborhood it was dark and not many people were outside the cold night air cleared my head a bit but when I got back I felt a jolt of dread as soon as I stepped onto the porch inside the house was silent

which was almost worse than the rattling I turned on the kitchen light then walked down to the basement door it was quiet no sounds No vibrations I opened at a crack and peaked down the steps the light was still on in the basement I stared at That door at the far end it was closed and everything looked still I walked down my heart thumping like a drum I placed a hand on the sealed door it felt cold now no vibrations no sound my mouth went dry and I felt an odd relief mixed with a new

tension like a calm before a storm I pressed my ear against it and held my breath nothing not a single sound I'm not sure which is worse hearing it or not hearing it but that's where I am now the door hasn't moved and I haven't tried to break it again I'm stuck in a standoff with whatever is behind there it's quiet tonight but I still feel the weight of that presence my tools are scattered across the floor some broken some mysteriously moved every time I look at that door my stomach churns and my fingers twitch

with nerves I can't stop thinking about what might happen if I managed to get it open part of me doesn't want to find out Another Part Of Me can't walk away Without knowing right now I'm just standing at the top of the basement stairs telling you how this all happened my hands are shaking the hair on the back of my neck feels stiff my thoughts jump from solution to solution but they all end the same way that door is locked from the inside and something doesn't want me to open it every time I try the

house reacts the door reacts there are no more Illusions for me about normal explan ations something is there and It's trying to keep itself hidden yet I can't ignore it that sealed space is the source of every strange vibration every breath-like noise every unexpected movement of my tools I don't know how this will end the basement still feels like it's alive with that same energy even though it's not shaking at this exact moment my gut tells me that whatever's behind that door is waiting for my next move I feel trapped in my own home trying

to decide if I should Keep living with this secret or do something Reckless to tear it open once and for all but for tonight I'm just going to close the basement door and keep my distance I've done enough damage for one day tomorrow maybe I'll be ready to try again or maybe I'll board it up and pretend it never existed either way I doubt it'll stay quiet for long and that's the part that scares me the most I got that clock from my grandfather's house after he passed away people said He loved the thing when

it worked but it had been silent for decades it was a big wooden wall clock with a glass door in front the gears inside looked rusted in some spots I never cared much for old stuff but I took it because it was part of the inheritance I brought it home and leaned it against the wall in my living room not expecting anything more than a chunk of wood collecting dust a week later I decided to hang it I cleared a spot in my living room and mounted it at About ey level I tried winding it

but the hands didn't move the pendulum stayed still no matter how many times I nudged it I Shrugged it off and stepped away for a few days it just sat there silent and useless then on the fourth day I walked into the living room and heard a steady ticking I froze the pendulum was swinging the second hand kept moving in circles but some was off the hour hand and minute hand pointed to weird numbers That I couldn't fully understand it almost looked like the clock read 1366 which made no sense I stared at it for

a few seconds then the second hand clicked into place and the display shifted to something close to 315 I blinked the ticking paused for a moment then continued at its normal Rhythm I remember checking my watch my watch said it was just past 8:00 p.m. my new Old Clock showed 3:16 the difference felt more than just A normal malfunction I considered taking it down or trying to open it up but I was curious I left it alone that night and went about my evening around 10 p.m. I heard a faint creaking noise in my hallway

it sounded like someone stepping slowly on the floorboards I live by myself and I don't usually invite people over so I felt my heart rate Spike I walked into the hallway turned on the lights and saw nothing the creaking stopped my living room felt colder Somehow the Old Clock was still ticking I checked it again the minute hand read 59 and the hour hand was stuck between 13 and 14 that freaked me out I stood there staring at it the numbers on its face seemed to shift I heard another quick step behind me but when

I spun around there was no one I tried to calm down I told my myself it was just my imagination or the house settling but something about the ticking sounded Uneven it had a hollow ring to it like it was ticking inside a metal chamber I turned on my TV to distract myself after half an hour I noticed the ticking stopped completely I walked over and checked the time on the Old Clock 0o the second hand kept spinning but it wasn't counting normal seconds it was moving slower then faster then slower again my stomach felt

tight I turned off the TV listened carefully and heard what sounded like faint footsteps above me I Don't have a second floor I looked at the ceiling my pulse pounded in my temples I didn't see any cracks or anything abnormal but the footsteps continued for a few more seconds then faded away I barely slept that night I woke up exhausted the next morning I checked the clock the hands showed something close to 9:45 a.m. but my phone said it was 7 a.m. the pendulum still moved and the second hand kept crawling around I tapped the

glass door But nothing changed I considered taking it to a repair shop but part of me wanted to see if it would keep doing this weird stuff I left for work trying to forget about it when I got back in the evening I felt an unease the moment I opened my door the place smelled stale the living room felt darker like the lights couldn't reach the corners I turned them all on but the Shadows seemed to press in the clock read 1302 my phone said 6:20 p.m. the second hand Looked like it was counting down

to something but I couldn't tell what it would stop briefly at the top then jump forward as if skipping a second or two a chill ran through my arms I heard a slow thump near the window like someone tapping on the glass I yanked the curtains aside there was only my yard and the fence in the distance around 8:00 p.m. I felt a sudden drop in temperature my breath came out in short Huffs my hands were shaking a little the Clocks ticking grew louder echoing in the living room I went to the kitchen to make

coffee and heard a scraping sound behind me it sounded like nails against wood I froze then rushed back to the living room the floor under the clock had thin scratches as if something with sharp edges had dragged across the the wood I stared at the marks my heart thuing I looked around for any animals nothing the windows were shut the doors were locked I stood still listening to That ticking it pulsed against my eardrums another day passed and more scratches appeared by the baseboards the times on the clock grew more bizar sometimes the hour hand

spun in circles while the minute hand barely moved one afternoon I walked in from work and the clock said 25:15 then jumped to 1366 I gasped my throat felt tight I touched the clock tried to stop the Pendulum with my hand the metal Bob felt freezing it stung my fingertips like ice i jerked my hand away and stumbled back that night I heard faint Whispers in the living room it sounded like a low conversation but I couldn't make out the words I switched on every light I had but the corners of the room looked darker

than usual it felt like the Shadows had weight I started avoiding that room I ate my meals in the kitchen or on my bed but the clock's ticking Never seemed to stop it cut through the walls in the early mornings I heard it ticking even when I was upstairs in the bathroom sometimes I'd wake up in the middle of the night sweating feeling eyes on me I'd sit up in bed hear the floor Creek in the hallway each time I got up to look the hallway was empty the only sound was that slow tick then

right at certain moments it would speed up like a frantic heartbeat after about a week the scratches on the floor had Deepened they formed patterns like claw marks in sets of three or four I tried sanding them out but new ones appeared the next day my living room smelled musty the air felt heavy I found myself breathing shallowly just to avoid that stale smell the face showed random numbers but always with some colon in the middle like 1799 or Euro whenever the clock hit those impossible times I'd hear footsteps around the house they moved fast

Shuffling from one end of the hallway to the other my skin would prickle sometimes I'd feel a breeze against my arms but the windows remained closed the worst part was the sense that something moved in the corners of my vision later at night I saw shapes in the reflection of the TV screen but when I turned around nothing was there I sat in my bedroom with the door locked telling myself these sightings Were My Mind Playing Tricks but I knew the Floors were getting scratched for real I could see them in plain daylight I saw

faint scuff marks on the walls like someone's fingers had dragged along the paint one night I tried removing the clock from the wall I unhooked it and carried it out to the garage my plan was to leave it there I remember the pendulum swinging wildly as I walked the second hand jerked back and forth I set it on a workbench I covered it with a sheet and I left for a moment the house Felt quieter I relaxed I made dinner watched some TV and went to bed feeling a bit better around 3:00 a.m. I jolted

awake to the sound of ticking right beside me my heart pounded I turned on my bedroom lamp looked around and saw no clock but I heard it I followed the sound all the way to the living room the clock was back on the wall hanging in the exact spot as before the sheet was gone the pendulum swung slowly and the face read year zuro CH zero I stared Wide-eyed my legs trembling I wanted to scream but my throat felt constricted I paced around the house searching for any sign of forced entry or anything that might

explain how the clock got got back there all the doors were locked from the inside the windows were sealed no Footprints or dirt tracked in I stood there listening to that slow tick it sounded louder than my own heartbeat I turned on every light but it didn't help my living room felt like a different Place the corner stayed dark no matter how bright the ceiling lamp glowed I could feel something in that Darkness like movement waiting for me to look away I grabbed a hammer from the garage I walked up to the clock and swung

at it my arms felt leaden but I managed to crack the glass door the clock's ticking stopped for half a second then it resumed at a faster Pace as if mocking me I slammed the hammer again but my hand slipped and I dropped it an icy Pain shot through my Palms like touching dry ice I backed away cursing under my breath there was a dent in the wood but the clock kept working the minute hand jumped from e0 to 59 then flipped back to 0 over the next few days the noises intensified doors creaked open

on their own cabinets slammed shut sometimes I'd walk into a room and find every drawer pulled out the floor near the clock had long gashes now deep enough that I could fit a coin inside the smell of mold or Rotting wood drifted around the Shadows seemed taller on the walls stretching toward the ceiling sometimes I heard a low growl almost like an animal but not quite my neck hair hair stood up every time my lungs felt tight and my stomach churned I had trouble eating I drank coffee and paste trying to figure out what to

do I tried to get outside more but when I returned I felt the house buzzing with this tension the moment I stepped in I felt a wave of dread I'd See the clock reading 1947 or 2312 or some other random hour that didn't match reality the second hand would skip a beat every time it passed the 12 like it was leaping forward and almost every evening there came a point when it showed 1366 or Z myo that's when the footsteps started sometimes just a few steps sometimes it sounded like a full circle around the living

room a few nights ago I felt something brushed my shoulder in The hallway but I couldn't see it my heart raced I stumbled Back Against The Wall panting until the pressure vanished I started sleeping in my clothes boots on ready to run outside if it got any wor worse but each morning I found myself still inside always too exhausted to make a move the clock's presence dug into my mind I felt like it was pulling the house into its own strange schedule a schedule that had nothing to do with normal hours I tried calling a

few Repair shops explaining I had a broken antique clock they offered to fix it if I brought it in but I didn't dare try to move it again after that night in the garage I was afraid it might reappear on the wall or make something worse happened yesterday something new happened around 1: p.m. my phone's time I noticed the clock said 14 the second hand started spinning in circles clicking rapidly I froze and watched the floor beneath the clock Bulged slightly like the wood was lifting my chest tightened my hands felt sweaty I inched closer

not sure what I'd see then the Bulge flattened again but the scratches on the floor got deeper I heard a raspy scraping sound like something was trying to claw its way up I jumped back nearly tripping over my coffee table the second hand stopped spinning and returned to a normal Pace I spent the rest of the afternoon feeling like I was being watched from the Corners of the room right now it's late my phone says it's 10:45 p.m. the clock reads 0000 and the ticking is loud enough that it vibrates in my skull every once

in a while I hear slow footsteps on the stairs leading to the attic but I don't have an attic I keep looking at the ceiling expecting it to open or crack the walls feel damp my throat is dry my eyes Sting from lack of sleep I can see the floorboards near the clock shifting Almost warping in small pulses each time the second hand hits the top there's a faint groan from the wood the clock's glass door is still cracked but it doesn't seem to matter I'm standing in my living room right writing this down on

my phone because I can't think of anything else to do I feel a breeze on my neck but all my windows are closed the corners are dark no matter how many lamps I switch on I keep hearing little scrapes on the floor like small knives Scratching my heart pounds and my legs feel weak I'm not sure what's going to happen in the next few minutes I can't see these shapes fully but I sense them at the edges of my vision my eyes keep darting around trying to catch movement the Shadows seem to shift there it

is again a slow creaking noise in the far Corner followed by a sound like a soft hiss I'm breathing fast my palms are sweaty and my pulse throbs in my ears the clock just chimed I didn't even know It had a chime it sounded like a deep Bell once twice three times now the second hand is twitching at the top counting something that isn't time my chest feels tight the floor under the clock is groaning like something is wedging itself upward I'm going to grab my phone charger and get out for the night I don't

care if the clock appears back on the wall tomorrow I need to breathe fresh air I can't sleep here every muscle in my body Is tense my throat is dry and I can't swallow my ears are ringing the footsteps won't stop they're circling through the living room maybe two or three sets of them I can't see anything but I feel it I sense shapes shifting behind the sofa I hear scratching on the wooden floor the tension in my neck is almost unbearable I'm going to the door now the clock is still showing 0000 0 and

the Pendulum is swinging faster than before There's a humming sound coming from inside its case like a swarm of insects I'm stepping away from the living room the boards under my feet are creaking loudly but I'm moving as fast as I can I can't look back I can't stand the thought of what might be behind me my skin tingles I'm gripping my phone so hard my Knuckles are white I don't know if leaving will help but I have to try I'm reaching for the doorknob the footsteps sound closer Right behind me I'm turning it now

I'm opening the door there's a cold gust of air hitting me my heart is hammering that clock's ticking echoes in my ears I'm stepping outside I'm not staying here another minute I don't care what that clock does next I just want to breathe and clear my head I'm done I remember the exact moment I found that symbol I was in my garage late in the afternoon trying to refinish an old Oak desk I'd picked up at an estate sale I had flipped the tabletop over to sand the underside right there tucked in a corner under

a layer of dust was this weird Circle carved into the wood it looked scratched not chiseled the lines inside it didn't connect in any smooth pattern they went in different directions like someone hadn't planned it carefully I leaned in wiped the area with a rag and felt a prickly sensation In my scalp my arms twitched and a wave of Goosebumps ran along my forearms I didn't think anything of it at first I just noted it was odd and I made a mental note to look it up later I flipped the tabletop right side up again

and kept sanding that evening I decided to research the symbol I typed a vague description into an online search engine nothing clear popped up I tried different keywords circle with disconnected lines ult circle symbol Ritual carved Circle most of what I got were random images that didn't match I decided to put my phone down and get some rest my shoulders were sore from all the sanding and the fumes from the stain had left my eyes feeling gritty I ate a quick dinner turned on some TV for background noise and went to bed that night I

had trouble sleeping I kept thinking about that Circle even though I didn't see it anywhere online I couldn't Shake the feeling that it meant something important around 2 in the morning I woke up with my heart racing I didn't have a clear dream but I felt like someone had been watching me I got up splashed some water on my face and tried to calm down I walked into my living room the place felt quiet darker than usual my own footsteps sounded louder on the hardwood floor my breath felt short I looked around and convinced myself

everything was normal eventually I returned to bed and forced myself to sleep the next morning I went back to the garage and focused on the desk again I ran my hand along its edges checking for chips I remember thinking how beautiful the oak grain was it had this natural color that I liked not too light not too dark I lowered my head underneath to examine the carving one more time I wanted to see if I could sand it out when I stuck my head under there that chill came back my neck Tightened and I pulled

back it felt like the space under the desk was colder than the rest of the garage the hair on my arm stood up I wondered if I was just psyching myself out I turned away picked up the Sandpaper and tried to focus on the rest of the desk but I kept glancing at that spot later in the day while I was applying varnish something flickered in the corner of my eye it looked like a dark shape standing in the back of the garage I turned quickly and there was nothing there but some stacked boxes and

a ladder my heart thumped hard in my chest I laughed it off told myself it was just my imagination I finished the varnish job locked up the garage and went inside to clean the brush my hands were trembling a bit but I ignored it that evening I decided to do some deeper research I looked into old books about occult symbols I found a few ebooks that talked About circles triangles pentagrams and other shapes used in rituals nothing matched perfectly but I saw some references to hand scratched circles that indicated doorways or conduits for unknown entities

one text in particular mentioned that incomplete lines inside a circle could be a sign of an unfinished invocation that made me uneasy I felt my stomach tighten I could feel a slight tension in my temples like a small Headache forming but I was curious so I kept reading until my eyes felt strained as I sat there at my dining table flipping through pages on my laptop I started feeling like someone was in the room with me I kept turning around expecting to see a neighbor or a friend behind me but there was no no one

the overhead light cast Shadows against the walls it felt too quiet the only sound was the faint hum of the fridge my heart was beating faster than normal and my Palms felt damp against the table I noticed my breath quickening I caught myself gripping the laptop's edges too hard I told myself to calm down but the uneasy feeling wouldn't go away when I tried to sleep my mind kept circling back to that symbol I pictured Ed the lines the scratched edges my dreams if I had any felt like black holes I remember waking up every

few hours sweaty and anxious but not sure why in the morning I decided to test out the desk I moved It into my small office space inside the house I set my computer on it placed some papers around and tried to work it was better LD in there less spooky than the garage I sat down and started typing an email that's when I first saw something out of the corner of my eye again I'm not a person who sees things I don't have any history of hallucinations but I swear I saw a shape at the

edge of my vision just near the door frame I spun my chair around Nothing my heart pounded I stood up walked to the door peaked into the hallway it was empty I checked the living room no one I went back to my desk and sat down again I felt tense like my muscles were on high alert I tried to focus on my work after a few minutes I felt something behind me I glanced over my shoulder but saw nothing still my neck stiffened and I got that same wave of Goosebumps over the next couple of

days These little glimpses of Shadows happened more often sometimes I'd be writing notes or paying bills online and I'd see a vague silhouette pass by the window or stand in a corner each time I turned to look it was gone my chest felt tight and my my breathing became shallow I started sleeping with lights on in the hallway I also took breaks from working at the desk but I always got drawn back to it part of me wanted to figure out what was happening Another Part Of Me Just couldn't resist the urge to keep searching

for information about that carving I visited a local used bookstore that specialized in older texts I told the owner I was looking for something on obscure symbols he showed me a few worn volumes about secret societies and old mystical orders most of it looked like nonsense but I found one book that had a section on hidden carvings in Furniture it discussed how certain groups in the past would etch symbols on Common household items to create a link to Invisible entities the text described how these symbols could act like keys to open a channel between the

physical world and other dimensions as I read I felt my heartbeat growing stronger my hand started to sweat the store felt stuffy I bought the book and hurried out that evening I read more about it my mind kept returning to the idea that someone had intentionally carved that Circle it wasn't an accident it could Have been put there long ago maybe by someone who practiced dark rituals I got restless and decided to take a closer look at the desk with a flashlight I laid down on the floor aimed the light at the carving and studied

every Groove I could see faint marks where the tool had scraped the wood the pattern had a slight tilt to it I reached out and traced it with my fingertip my skin skin tingled and I felt my pulse in my fingertips I got up quickly feeling like I'd touched something I shouldn't have I started having more intense experiences after that Shadows around the house became sharper they weren't just shapes in the corner of my eye sometimes they looked like dark Silhouettes standing in Corners facing me I couldn't see any facial features but I sensed they

were staring my body would tighten my mouth would go dry and I'd feel a surge of adrenaline I could almost hear my own Pulse in my ears at times I heard faint Whispers they were soft like a breeze but they formed words I couldn't quite understand it was like listening to a conversation through thick walls my mind tried to make sense of it but I only picked up bits of sound one night I was reading another ancient text about protective seals hoping to find a way to counter this situation as I turned a page I

Heard a Voice right next to my ear it was a low Whisper that said something like you're close I jumped out of my chair and dropped the book my hands were shaking and my heart felt like it might burst through my chest I spun around scanning the room nothing there I was sweating and I felt cold at the same time my legs were trembling and I backed away from the desk I picked up the book from the floor but my hand was unsteady and I nearly dropped it again I went to the bathroom to splash

water On my face my reflection in the mirror showed bloodshot eyes dark circles under them I breathed in and out trying to slow my racing pulse my thoughts were jumbled I kept thinking that I'd gone too far that I shouldn't keep reading but a strange Drive pushed me to continue each new detail I learned made me feel like I was uncovering a puzzle these Shadows seemed stronger like they were feeding off every bit of knowledge I gained I recognized that it was Dangerous but I felt a compulsion to see it through on the fifth day

after discovering the symbol the Shadows began to speak more clearly their Whispers felt closer to my ear they said things about power secrets and Forbidden Knowledge they urged me to open more books to explore more about that Circle my head felt crowded with their voices at times my hands shook whenever I tried to write anything down I'd hear them telling me not to stop to keep looking I Started to wonder if I was losing my mind my chest felt tight my jaw clenched I caught myself biting my lower lip until it hurt I tried turning

on every light in the house hoping that bright illumination would make the Shadows vanish it didn't work I saw outlines of them even in daylight they hovered near my desk pacing near my couch at one point I decided to take a break from the research I hid the books in a closet and locked them away for a moment it felt Like the house got quieter but when I returned to the desk to write an email I saw one of those figures standing in my office doorway it didn't move it just stood there that tall black

shape with undefined edges I stood up my throat tight my legs weak my heart pounded so hard I could hear it I forced myself to walk toward it my eyes teared up because I was so tense as I approached it faded like smoke I heard a faint hiss like air leaking from a tire then it was gone I Leaned on the door frame panting my mouth was dry my t-shirt was soaked and sweat around the collar I realized I was gripping the door knob so hard my knuckles were white I Let Go stepped back and

shut my eyes my mind buzzed with the possibility that this entity was now free to roam my house that night I considered getting rid of the desk altogether I even went to my garage to look for tools so I could take it apart or burn it but a wave of dizziness hit Me as soon as I looked at the desk my vision blurred and I felt like I might collapse I gripped the edge of a shelf to steady myself it felt like the Shadows were pressing in blocking my thoughts telling me I couldn't destroy it

my breathing became ragged and my scalp tingled I shut my eyes for a moment and forced myself to back away my knees felt weak and I sank onto a nearby stool I stayed there until the feeling passed I grabbed my phone and searched For any local experts on occult symbols I found a forum where people discussed runes and sigils one user mentioned a library in the next town over that had rare TOS the next morning I drove there and found a small reading room with shelves of Dusty old books I flipped through several focusing on

anything that described carved circles with lines inside after a few hours I spotted a chapter about malignant Watchers linked to incomplete circles the text described Them as entities that feed on a person's attention and knowledge the more you learn about them the more solid they become reading that I felt my stomach churn I shut the book and stared at the table my pulse raced it felt like an explanation for everything I'd been experiencing I hurried home with the idea that I might find a way to block them another passage in that text mentioned that if

the circle remained in in complete you could sever The Connection by physically breaking the symbol or removing it from the item it warned that the process was risky and the Watchers might try to stop you when I walked into my house I felt an immediate heaviness like the air was thick my vision felt slightly off like the corners of the room were dark I approached the desk reached under it and traced the lines of the carving with my fingers my hand trembled I felt a sharp jolt in my arm like a static shock I Knew

I had to get rid of it or at least break that part of the wood I grabbed a chisel from the garage knelt down and placed it against the carved lines my hands were sweaty and I could hear my heartbeat in my ears I struck the Chisel with a hammer a chunk of wood splintered off as soon as it broke I felt a surge of cold air around me my teeth chattered for a second I struck again determined to break every trace of the circle each hit sent vibrations up my arm and I Heard low

Whispers around me they sounded angry my shoulders tensed and a ringing filled my ears the Shadows flickered at the corners of my vision but I kept going finally the carving was completely destroyed there was just a ragged patch of raw wood I stood up breathing hard my legs shaky the room felt different like a weight had been lifted I looked around the Shadows were gone on the silence was so intense I could hear my own breath I ran my hand Across my forehead wiping off sweat my mouth was still dry but I felt like I

could breathe again I moved away from the desk leaning against a wall my pulse gradually slowed my head achd a little but it was the tension draining out I stayed there for a few moments just listening to The Emptiness I'm not sure what those Shadows really were or how close they came to taking over my life they felt real like they had a presence beyond my Imagination I still have that desk but now it has a big scar under the tabletop where I chiseled out the carving I keep the lights on around it whenever I'm

working I haven't seen any of those shapes since then I do catch myself glancing at the floor every now and then half expecting to see a shadow move but the house is quiet now I locked away the books and I don't plan to read about that symbol again I don't need to I learned enough to last me a Lifetime sometimes I feel a chill when I think about how those Shadows seem to feed on my curiosity but I'm done with that Circle I don't want to poke around in things I don't understand anymore for now

I'm staying away from strange symbols and anything that hints at unknown entities I'm finally sleeping better and the air in my house feels normal whenever I sit at that desk to write I remind myself that I'm in control and as long as that carving is Destroyed I believe those shadows will stay wherever they belong I've never liked creaking noises at night but I used to shrug them off I assumed they came from the house settling or from old pipes in the walls that changed when I started hearing heavier footsteps above my bedroom at around 2:

in the morning they weren't random taps or scraping sounds they felt deliberate almost pacing back and forth like someone was walking slowly just a Few feet above my head now I can't sleep without thinking about those steps in the attic I tried ignoring them at first but they kept growing louder each night until I couldn't push the noise out of my mind I decided I had to go up there and see what was happening I live alone in a small two-story house the attic is right above the second floor and there's a hatch in the

hallway ceiling the hallway is narrow with one Bare Bulb that lights everything in a dull glow The first time I heard the footsteps I told myself it could be an animal a raccoon or an aosom but I had never heard an animal with such heavy footfalls Almost Human in weight the next night when the step started again around the same time I lay in bed holding my breath the floor above me creaked in a pattern it was slow then paused then continued it felt like someone pacing my stomach Twisted I got out of bed and

went into the the hallway I pulled down the attic ladder flipping on the light switch near the hatch I expected to see a typical attic space with Dusty boxes maybe some spiderwebs I pushed my head through the opening and looked around the single light bulb in the center lit up a cramped space filled with old furniture a couple of stacked boxes and a stale odor that reminded me of cardboard and mold the dust in the air made me sneeze I climbed up and Stood Still scanning The area I didn't see or hear any sign of

a person or an animal the entire area felt still the only sound was my own breathing and the hum of The house's electricity I moved slowly through the narrow paths between Furniture I checked behind some boxes nudged an old dresser and peered into the corners nothing moved the footsteps weren't happening while I was up there but there was a strange tension in the air like static before a storm my neck felt prickly I Remember thinking I was imagining it so I forced myself to shrug it off then as I stepped over to an old trunk

I heard a light thud it came from a spot a few feet behind me my chest tightened I spun around shining a small flashlight I'd brought along nothing stood there I forced out a slow breath and told myself it might have been the house settling or maybe I kicked something without noticing I kept looking around for a few more minutes eventually I returned to my Bedroom lowered the attic ladder and tried to fall asleep my mind wouldn't quiet down but I eventually dozed off in the early hours of the morning the next few nights the

footsteps came back sounding even heavier I lay there trying to decide if I was losing it or if something real was happening on the fourth night I reached a point where I couldn't handle the uncertainty anymore I got up as soon as I heard the footsteps I grabbed my Flashlight and a small crowbar for peace of mind I crept into the hallway pulled down the attic ladder and climbed up the bulb above me flickered a bit I felt a weird tension in my stomach the air was thicker than usual like I was in a room

that hadn't been opened in decades my footsteps kicked up dust and I heard the floor creaking under me the steps continued behind me matching my own pace they were softer than mine but Definitely there I turned my head quickly again nothing was there but this time my scalp tingled I felt a faint touch on my shoulder it was a light press like fingertips brushing against my jacket I jerked my body around shining my flashlight but I saw nothing except dust Moes I swear my heart was pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears

my chest felt tight and I found myself breathing faster I stood there trying to calm down my mouth went dry And my Palms were sweaty making it hard to keep a good grip on my flashlight I tried calling out hello is anyone here my voice sounded shaky in my ears I got no answer I waited letting the silence stretch on then I took a few more steps the footsteps continued behind me they matched me step for step I turned around again faster this time but it didn't help I saw nothing except old boxes a couple

of folded chairs and a large mirror leaning against the wall I felt a Chill running down my spine so I headed back downstairs once I was in my bedroom I closed the attic hatch and tried to breathe normally I didn't sleep well every little sound made me tense up expecting those footsteps to start again by the morning I decided to set up some cameras I wanted proof one way or another that I wasn't going crazy I went out and bought a few cheap security cameras with night vision I spent the Afternoon placing them around the

attic pointing them at different areas one camera was near the hatch aimed at the center of the room another was on a Shelf watching the far Corner a third one was attached to a post near the mirror I made sure each camera had enough battery and memory to record through the night I tested them to confirm they were working that night I felt a bit more confident thinking I would see something on the video if There was indeed something up there I forced myself to go to bed at a normal time around 2: in the

morning I woke woke up at first I thought I heard a scratching sound but it might have been in my dream then I heard the footsteps again they seemed heavier and I could sense a certain Rhythm I got out of bed and glanced at the hallway ceiling my heart was racing but I told myself to wait until morning to check the cameras I didn't sleep much after that when the Sun came up I went into the attic everything looked the same boxes in place nothing overturned I I gathered the cameras and brought them downstairs to

my living room I connected them to my computer and started watching the footage for the first few minutes all I saw was an empty attic dust floated in the air drifting around in the dim light from the bulb I had left on then in the camera near the mirror there was a short flicker the screen darkened for half a Second when it came back I saw a faint Shadow it moved quickly across the frame almost crossing from the right side to the left then vanished my throat tightened I scrubbed back and forth trying to see

details but it was just a dark blur on the camera near the hatch I saw another flicker around the same time this time the shadow paused for a split second then shot across the room it passed right through a wooden beam like it wasn't even there my hands were Shaking as I paused the frame in that brief moment the shadow appeared to be looking directly at the lens I couldn't see any face or eyes but it felt like it was facing the camera I turned off the playback for a moment my heart pounded and I

could feel the sweat on my forehead I wanted to find a logical explanation but I had no idea how to explain a shape Crossing solid wood I checked the other camera videos in one of them I heard faint footsteps I Saw dust swirling around but no clear shape I sat there replaying the footage over and over the clock on my computer said it was nearly lunchtime but I didn't feel hungry I felt shaken those cameras showed something I couldn't explain I decided to set them up again that night but I also considered calling someone for

help maybe a friend who could sit with me and see this thing in person but I felt embarrassed worried They'd think I was losing my mind so I decided to handle it alone that evening I went back into the attic before it got dark I moved the boxes away from the walls leaving more open space I wanted fewer hiding spots if there was some Intruder playing a trick I swept the floor a bit stirring up clouds of dust that made me cough then I set the cameras back in place checking their angles again I placed

an extra battery pack near one of them so it could record Longer I turned off the attic light and went downstairs I locked the hatch from below which wasn't normally possible but I rigged up a small latch that could hold it shut then I tried to relax on the couch flipping channels on the TV without really paying attention around midnight I felt my eyelids getting heavy so I decided to go to bed I switched off the TV and walked up the stairs the house felt cold though the heater was on I could see my breath

in the hallway which was strange I touched the radiator and it was warm yet the air around me felt cold enough to make my skin prickle I hurried into my bedroom and slipped under the covers I kept the light on about an hour later I heard the footsteps again I stared at the ceiling feeling my pulse in my ears this time they sounded different they started at one end of the attic and moved all the way to the other end then they stopped My body tensed waiting for the next steps nothing happened after a few

minutes they started again slower this time I could almost picture them stepping carefully over items but I knew the attic was cleared out in the middle I stayed in bed not wanting to go up there in the dark when morning came I felt relieved to see daylight I rushed up the ladder to get the cameras the air still felt heavy and I saw my breath again even though it was daytime I Grabbed the devices and hurried downstairs once again I plugged them into my computer the recording started off normal just an empty at after about

an hour of footage the camera near the hatch showed a quick movement the shape darted across the frame heading toward the mirror the next camera angle caught a glimpse of a dark form passing by then it paused in front of the camera like it was staring the screen flickered the shape vanished then Reappeared a few seconds later at the opposite end of the attic I heard a faint scraping noise in the audio but I couldn't figure out what caused it my stomach clenched I noticed each time it appeared there was a sudden burst of static

the audio spiked then died down I rewound several times trying to see some clear detail but I couldn't there was only a vague outline that looked humanoid no distinct features it was like a shadow but it moved on its own And didn't match any light source watching it made my scalp crawl I turned off my computer and took a walk around the block the normal daylight sounds cars passing people talking helped me calm down but I knew I had to face the fact that something unexplained was in my attic that night I decided to confront

it directly I went up with a flashlight a handheld video camera and a firm resolve I stepped onto the attic boards feeling them shift under my Weight the overhead bulb flickered when I tugged the chain I started filming with my camera I panned around slowly catching the boxes the furniture and the mirror then and I walked to the far side where the shape had appeared my heart thumped I could hear each breath I took the air felt cold the floor creaked under me with each step suddenly I heard a heavy thump on the other side

of the attic I turned but the mirror was in the way the mirror was angled so I could see Part of the room reflected in it I saw something shift across the reflection it was dark my stomach flipped I took a shake shaky step forward and I felt the static in the air my hair stood on end and my skin tingled a sound emerged like soft footsteps circling me I turned again trying to film everything my flashlight flickered and the camera screen glitched the steps were behind me I spun around but there was only the

old trunk and some chairs Then I felt a light tap on my back my camera shook in my hand I swung the flashlight to the spot where I felt the tap but I saw empty air my breathing grew fast my pulse hammered in my ears I knew I should leave I backed away toward the hatch the boards beneath me groaned each step I took I heard another step behind me it was delayed by just a fraction of a second like an echo the single bulb above me buzzed and flickered my flashlight dimmed for a Moment

then returned to full brightness I kept filming refusing to lower the camera even though my hands were shaking then the attic light went out completely I was left with my flashlight beam which felt too narrow in the darkness the space around me looked endless and threatening I inched my way to the hatch feeling the ladder with the back of my heel when I found it I climbed down as fast as I could without Falling I shut the hatch above me and locked it again now I'm sitting in my living room the camera in front of

me my heart rate is finally slowing down I I can still feel that cold weight in the air even down here I sense that something is in the Attic pacing back and forth my legs are shaky and my hands feel like they've been gripping something for hours I don't know what my next move is I have footage of a shape that crosses solid walls I have these Sounds of heavy steps that vanish whenever I shine a light I feel a tap on my back when there's no one there I can't sleep with those sounds overhead

every time I close my eyes I imagine that shape moving above me waiting for me to come back up I've thought about leaving the house and never returning but it's my home and I don't want to give it up to something I can't even see clearly I also don't want to invite anyone else into this place until I Figure out what's going on I keep looking toward the ceiling half expecting the footsteps to start again right now my body is still tense ready to jump I don't know how many more nights I can stand this

there's something in my attic and it isn't going away it follows me matches my pace and touches me When I'm Not Looking I have video evidence that's impossible to explain the only thing I'm sure of is that this presence is real and I can't Ignore it anymore I left the city Before Sunrise with a stiff neck an aching head and a duffel bag stuffed with cloes clothes I barely folded my car's back seat held a small cooler with water and a few sandwiches I didn't say goodbye to anyone I just pulled onto the highway and

pressed the gas pedal determined to get away I wanted to avoid main roads so I took every side route I found on my map I wasn't looking for scenery I only Wanted quiet stretches of asphalt in the promise of a small village at the end of it I felt worn down from traffic and Street noise my shoulders were sore from tension I needed space to breathe I needed something different after a few hours of driving the GPS on my phone lost its signal I tossed the device on the passenger seat and decided to trust the

old map I had tucked under the visor the weather was warm but not hot enough to need the air conditioning I drove With my window open letting the wind dry the sweat on my brow my car was running fine at first the engine hummed and the tires rolled along the cracked pavement without a problem the roads were empty I passed a single gas station with broken Neon Lights nobody stood behind the counter so I kept going without a full tank I figured I had enough fuel to reach the next town about an hour after that

I saw something unusual in the distance the road Stretched out in front of me in a long straight line but the trees on both sides looked twisted their trunks bent toward the road the branches curled upward I squinted because it was hard to make sense of their shapes they reminded me of old wires that had been Bent by hand but I don't want to compare them to anything poetic they were just warped trees with rough bark and no leaves the sky above seemed a little darker there even though it was still Midday I checked my

map again according to the paper this road should cut through some forested area and eventually lead to a small settlement there was no other path shown on the map so I stayed on course I kept my eyes on the road but I noticed movement on both sides the shapes were black or gray darting behind the trees I heard a rustling sound as if something scraped against tree bark my grip on the steering wheel tightened and my Heartbeat sped up I tried to ignore the Shadows they didn't look like animals they didn't have a clear outline

that I could identify but they seemed to match my car's speed moving in short bursts my throat felt dry my ears were on high alert every time the wind blew I jumped a bit I stared Straight Ahead hoping to see the end of that long stretch of road suddenly my car jerked the engine sputtered I felt a jolt in the seat like the car lost power for Half a second then it recovered I sat forward checking the gauges the temperature was fine the fuel level was okay I eased off the gas and then pressed it

again the engine returned to normal but I was sweating now not from heat but from the sudden worry that my car might break down in that place I glanced over my shoulder the road behind me was empty the trees looked the same there twisted and leaning inward I had the urge to turn around but I needed to Reach that small village and the map showed it straight ahead I drove another mile or so before the engine sputtered again this time it lasted longer the lights on the dashboard flickered the car slowed down and I felt

a cold sense of dread tighten my stomach I pulled over and turned off the ignition the wind outside was still I heard my pulse pounding in my ears and I noticed a slight trembling in my hands my mouth felt parched so I took a sip of water From the cooler then I popped the hood steam didn't rise from the engine and I didn't see any leaks nothing looked out of place I tapped a few hoses checked the oil dipstick everything seemed normal while I stood there the silence made me uneasy there were no birds I

only heard faint rustling in the distance like something was scraping across the ground I walked around to the front of the car and looked down at the gravel near the shoulder I saw strange Marks in the dirt they looked like lines in sets of four but not Footprints more like scratches or drag marks each set of marks ran parallel as if something with claws had passed by I I didn't see any distinct paw shapes it wasn't an animal track I recognized I stood there a moment trying to figure out if it was fresh it looked

new because I could see loose gravel scattered at the edges my chest felt tight my instincts told me to hurry I got back in my car I turned the Ignition and it started right up I let out a shaky breath and steered back onto the road the lane ahead still went in a straight line and the trees Contin Ed on both sides without any breaks the Shadows among the trunks were still there rushing forward I tried not to stare at them too long my stomach was in knots my mind was racing with thoughts about breaking

down and being stuck on that road my left foot tapped nervously on the floorboard my knuckles were white From gripping the wheel I took short breaths and blinked Away the sweat that dripped into my eyes as I kept going the road felt longer I checked my odometer to see how many miles I'd covered the numbers indicated I should have reached at least a Bend or something by now based on my map's scale but the straight line continued my eyes burned from staring I didn't see any turnoff or Side Road there was no sign for a

town or a gas Station it was only the same warped trees and the same Shadows dancing behind them I glanced at the time on my phone the screen showed no signal and the same hour it had shown before I wasn't sure if it was glitching the battery icon was stuck at the same percentage I stuffed the phone in the cup holder I felt a tightness in my chest again then for a third time the engine sputtered the car's power gave out completely and I had to Coast to a Stop on the side I turned off

the ignition turned it on again and the engine cranked but wouldn't start I swore under my breath and slammed my hands on the steering wheel I stared at the road ahead through the windshield it was so straight that I couldn't see any Horizon just that line Fading Into more trees my shirt was soaked around the collar my eyes darted left to right scanning the road and the shoulder looking for movement I climbed out of The car keeping the door open in case I needed to jump back inside the air felt still again my ears felt

like they were straining for any sound I could hear my own breathing fast and shallow I could feel my pulse pounding in my temples I opened the hood once more I jiggled the spark plug wires checked a few connections and then tried the ignition again it sputtered and then roared back to life I exhaled slammed the hood and jumped in the driver seat I pressed the Gas and the car moved forward my shoulders achd from tension as I drove I tried to measure the distance I picked a reference point on the odometer and told myself

that if this was still the same road after another 5 miles I'd consider turning around but 5 miles passed and nothing changed the trees were still tight on both sides no exit no break in the monotony I tried to do a U-turn swinging the wheel all the way there wasn't much Space but I managed to angle the car back around I headed in the opposite direction feeling a small surge of hope that I could leave this place the same way I came but after about 10 minutes I realized the scenery hadn't changed the trees looked

identical I didn't pass my earlier stops or see the gas station from hours ago it looked like the same stretch of Twisted trunks the Shadows still flickered among them my chest clenched again I couldn't figure out if I was losing my mind or if the road was doing something to keep me there I stopped the car my legs felt weak so I stayed seated I looked at the clock on my dashboard but the display was stuck at the same time I had noticed earlier the numbers hadn't moved I rested my head against the steering wheel

trying to steady my breathing when I glanced at the rearview mirror I thought I saw a figure standing between the trees but it was gone when I blinked my heart raced The hair on the back of my neck stood up I pulled my foot off the brake and pressed the accelerator the car responded with a bit of a Lurch but it moved I decided to keep going forward again hoping I'd find some break in that endless line of trees the day dragged on at least it felt like it was dragging on although the sky didn't

change much I didn't see the sun move across the sky it hung there hidden behind a dull layer of cloud or maybe it was hidden by the Thick branches above my water supply was running low I sipped it sparingly trying to keep some for later my stomach growled but I ignored it my main worry was that the car would die for good and I'd be stuck walking among those Twisted trunks thinking about that made my hands Shake again my heart hammered and I took several quick breaths to calm down after another indefinite period I saw

a faint sign up ahead head it stood crooked on the side of the road leaning as if it Had been knocked by a strong wind I slowed down to read it the letters were chipped but I could make out the name of a village it matched the place I intended to find I felt a surge of relief and I pressed the gas moving closer the sign pointed straight ahead so I continued the road still looked the same but now there was at least some indication that I was headed somewhere real I kept glancing at the

side of the road Road expecting more signs or maybe A building in the distance a few minutes later the trees began to spread out they weren't so tight against the road and the trunks didn't look as Twisted the Shadows among them seemed fewer I could see small patches of grass and weeds my heart started to slow I clenched the steering wheel waiting for another engine sputter but it didn't happen the car kept going I gritted my teeth waiting for something else to jump out or cause me to stop but all I I Heard was the

soft hum of my tires on the asphalt then I turned a slight Bend and the never- ending straight line was behind me my shoulders sagged in relief I saw a few wooden houses in the distance their roofs looked worn and the paint was peeling but they were houses and that meant people I drove into the small Village Center there was a single dirt lot next to a building that had a faded sign indicating it was a store or a cafe I parked and shut off the engine I sat there for a moment letting the tension

drain from my muscles my back and arms hurt from the stress my shirt was soaked with sweat my eyes achd from staring down that road I didn't want to look behind me at the path I had just escaped I just wanted to find a safe place to stand on Solid Ground maybe talk to a local about a motel or a place to rest I got out of the car slammed the door and took a moment to stretch my arms overhead the air felt calm here I Saw a woman crossing the street but I didn't hear

much else there were no loud voices no music no heavy traffic it was almost too quiet but at least it wasn't that twisting Forest I walked to the store entrance ignoring the urge to look back at the road my eyes were fixed on the door in the promise of another person's voice my leg still felt shaky but I pushed through I grabbed the handle and opened it inside there was a small counter with a cash register the SM smell of Dusty shelves and old wood hit me the woman behind the counter looked at me with

slight curiosity I wiped my forehead and asked if there was a place to stay in the village she nodded and pointed me in the direction of a local boarding house a few blocks away I thanked her bought a bottle of cold water and walked back outside my car was still parked there I couldn't help a quick glance at the road it was silent the trees were at a Distance not so menacing now that I wasn't trapped among them I felt relief wash over me but I also felt a raw tension inside my chest my body

still held the memory of those strange shadows and the scratching noises my mind kept replaying the engine sputtering I could still feel the dryness in my mouth and the tightness in my shoulders but I was out I took a deep breath and climbed back in the car this time the engine started without any stutter I drove Slowly through the village streets until I found the boarding house it was a modest building with an old sign I parked turned off the engine and got out my legs wobbled when I stood I walked to the door hoping

I could settle in get a warm meal and calm my nerves I didn't plan to stay in that place forever but for now I just needed rest I'm not sure what happened on that road I'm not sure if I went crazy or if there was something in those trees that wanted me To stay all I know is that my heart is still pounding and my head is still still throbbing my skin prickles when I think about those claw marks I don't have answers and I don't really want to dig deeper I'm just glad I found

this Village I'm glad I can close my eyes tonight without hearing that engine sputter again in the middle of that Dark Twisted stretch of highway and if someone asks why I left the city I might say I just needed peace but the real Reason is that I wanted to escape everything that was suffocating me now I'm not sure if I found the piece I was looking for but at least I escaped that one endless Road and that's enough for me right now I never expected to feel such unease in a place that carried my own

family name from the moment I stepped onto that old property something felt off the air was heavy and the silence around me felt like a warning my grandfather used to Talk talk about this land with pride and I always thought of it as a peaceful Escape From The Busy City but the day I arrived alone the property seemed different like it was ready to show me something it had kept hidden for years I drove up the dirt road and parked near the Aging Farmhouse when I got out the first thing I noticed was the wind

it felt stale I heard no birds no rustling of leaves just a low hum that might have been in my head the ground around the House house looked dry even though we'd had a few days of rain recently the paint on the walls had peeled away in large patches and the windows were covered in dust I walked around to check if anything needed immediate repairs the place looked worn but stable enough for a short visit I planned to stay a week at most just to handle some paperwork and see if there was anything of value

left on the property in the back near an old tool shed I spotted a circular mound Of stones I remembered my grandfather once saying there was a well he used to say it had dried up years ago but he never gave details I saw thick metal chains wrapped around the stones and on top were more Stones piled in a messy way it didn't look like a simple well cover it looked barricaded I walked closer the metal felt cold even in the afternoon sun when I leaned in I thought I heard something a low groan or

Vibration I pressed my ear against the top Stone my heart began to race it sounded like a distant moan coming from deep below I stood back feeling a chill I told myself it was just the wind I shook off the feeling and went back to The Farmhouse the inside was dusty but familiar I recognized some of my grandfather's old furniture the floor creaked under my boots I opened the windows letting in some air I grabbed a broom to clear out the spiderwebs in the Corners everything smelled like mold in old wood I found the bedroom

in the back and tossed my duffel bag on the bed I settled in figuring I'd rest for a couple of hours before exploring more that first night I heard my name Echo from outside I sat up in bed heart pounding I had been half asleep but the sound was so clear it was just one word repeated twice my name it sounded distorted like a voice speaking through A long tunnel I stayed still breathing fast I waited at first I thought it was a dream but then I heard it again from the direction of that old

well I got up put on my boots and grabbed a flashlight I stepped out onto the porch everything was dark the moon lit the yard and I could see the vague shape of the well behind the shed the wind had died down so I stood there in total silence I considered walking over but something held me back my chest felt tight and I Had this weird sense that I wasn't alone but I saw nothing unusual just the same old Stones I told myself it was just my imagination I went back inside and locked the door

in the morning I tried to laugh it off I made some coffee and checked around the property in the daylight there was no sign that anyone had been there during the night I noticed the chains around the well again they looked secure but now I was curious I found a crowbar in the tool shed I Decided to remove some of the stones I couldn't explain why but I felt this strong urge to see inside maybe it was the voice I thought I heard maybe I just wanted to prove it was nothing it took me a

while to pry up the top stones and Loos in the chains they were rusted so it wasn't easy as soon as I removed a few Stones a blast of cold air hit my face it made me Catch My Breath the morning was warm but the air from the well felt freezing it smelled damp like Old soil and wet Rock I aimed the flashlight inside and saw a narrow hole descending Into Darkness I shined the light around the interior wall that's when I noticed symbols carved into the stone they looked like shapes and lines I couldn't

recognize they circled the inner wall in rings going all the way down I decided to drop a small rock in there to see how deep it went I didn't hear a splash instead it hit something solid After a few seconds and the sound echoed no water I decided I needed a closer look the opening was big enough for me to climb inside if I moved a few more Stones my gut told me not to do it but something else some strange curiosity pushed me on I cleared more Stones until the opening was wide enough to

fit my shoulders inside there was a small landing and a stone staircase leading down the steps looked old worn and they SP spiraled into the darkness below There was no way the property was tall enough to hide such depth the well was maybe 8 or 9 ft across on the outside but as I looked down it seemed to go much deeper than I expected my heart hammered I gripped the edge with my free hand and started down each step felt solid under my boots but I moved slowly shining my flashlight over the walls the symbols

were everywhere carved in neat rows my flashlight beam caught bits of moisture glistening on the Rock the air Kept getting colder as I went I started shaking not just from the drop in temperature but from growing nerves I had gone down maybe 20 steps when I realized I couldn't see the bottom yet I looked up and saw the circle of daylight above me it looked small now like I had descended much farther than should be physically possible my legs felt weak I had this strange feeling of being watched the hair on my arms stood up

my Palms got sweaty around the flashlight I Heard a faint noise that sounded like breathing but it wasn't mine my breath was shallow and shaky this sound was rhythmic like something hidden in the darkness was drawing in air I froze I tried to steady the flashlight but my hand was trembling I called out a simple hello my voice echoed and then it died no reply but the feeling didn't leave I kept going down step by step I lost track of time my mind was focused on the flashlights beam and the spiral Of the stairs the

echo of my own footsteps felt strange almost muted I couldn't figure out how deep I was the air was thick and my ears felt pressure like I was way below ground level I became aware of my heartbeat pounding in my head my throat was dry I coughed a few times trying to stay calm then I heard a whisper it wasn't my name this time it was just a low muttering like someone speaking a few words I couldn't make out I froze again shining the Flashlight in every direction just more stone walls and those carved symbols

they looked smoother more detailed some had sharper lines forming angles that made no sense to me I looked up the top was barely visible it felt like I was inside a tall shaft I wanted to turn back but I also needed a see what was down there my legs felt heavy I knew I was close to panic but I pushed myself to go a few more steps the air turned colder the deeper I went I could see my Breath now small puffs of steam floating in front of the flashlight I passed my hand over the

wall and felt the rough texture of the carvings they seemed to get more precise the lower I went like the work of someone who spent a long time etching them then I heard that moaning sound again the same one that had made made me curious in the first place it started low almost like a distant wind then it grew louder echoing in the tight space My skin crawled I gripped the flashlight so hard my Knuckles achd something down there was alive or at least moving I felt my stomach twist I told myself this was insane

there was no logical reason for this well to exist in this manner it was too deep too elaborate but I kept going until the stairway opened into a small chamber the walls in that space had the same carvings but there were more of them Crossing each other in patterns my flashlight Flickered my breath caught in my throat I slapped the flashlight a few times and it steadied the chamber had a low ceiling and on the far side there seemed to be another passage or a corridor I tried to see inside but it was too dark

I didn't want to go any farther I could feel my entire body shaking my head started to pound and I heard my own heartbeat in my ears I realized I was sweating despite the freezing air my chest felt tight my mind kept telling me To go back that this wasn't right that I didn't belong here but I took a few steps toward that passage the ground felt uneven my boots slid on a wet patch and I had to catch myself against the wall as I touched the wall I felt those cars carvings under my fingertips

they felt sharp in some places almost like tiny teeth in the Rock I pressed the flashlight forward that Corridor seemed to stretch out I heard the moaning sound again closer this time it sounded like It was just around a corner calling me in my heart pounded so loudly I felt dizzy I could sense that whatever was making that noise knew I was there it felt hungry like it wanted me to keep going my arms felt numb and my back achd from Crouching I moved the beam across the corridor's entrance I thought I saw a shape

move a dark shape that vanished the moment the light touched it my throat tightened I let out a small gasp and jerked the flashlight back it could Have been my eyes playing tricks in the dimness but I wasn't sure I stood there for a while breathing in that stale cold air my thoughts kept jumping between curiosity and fear I thought about what my grandfather might have known why did he never tell me about this why had He piled So Many Stones on top of the well and locked it with chains it was obvious he wanted

to keep it closed now I understood there was something here that Shouldn't be disturbed my body felt pinned by a feeling of dread finally I forced myself to turn around my mind was screaming at me to leave as I climbed back up each step felt like a mile my legs were sore and I I kept looking over my shoulder I thought I heard quiet footsteps behind me matching my Pace but whenever I stopped to listen there was only silence the higher I went the more I felt that presence pulling at me almost like it wanted

me to return I Gritted my teeth and focused on the flashlight beam hitting the steps my breath echoed in the well and I tried not to imagine hands reaching out from behind when I saw the circle of daylight above me I felt a surge of relief I climbed faster St Ling on the last few steps I crawled out of the opening and collapsed on the grass my heart was hammering and my lungs burned the air outside felt hot compared to the cold below I looked back down and saw nothing But Darkness I grabbed the stones

and replace them as best as I could but my hands were shaking so badly that it took a few tries to line them up I didn't have the patience to reattach the chains the way they were before I just piled them on top in a messy stack my my entire body was trembling my shirt drenched and sweat I backed away from the well refusing to turn my back on it I stared at the opening for a long time half expecting something to crawl out But it stayed silent I fought the urge to run instead I

walked slowly toward the Farmhouse refusing to look away until I reached the door once inside I locked everything and sat down in the old wooden chair near the fireplace my breathing brething was still uneven I could feel the adrenaline leaving my body replaced by exhaustion I placed the flashlight on the table and stared at the dust floating in the air my hands wouldn't stop shaking that night I Couldn't sleep I sat with my back against the door listening for any sound outside I kept imagining that moan that cold air those impossible symbols carved into the

walls my body felt tense and every time the floor creaked I jolt the darkness of the house felt different now like it was an extension of that endless pit outside I tried to calm myself but my chest felt heavy I closed my eyes but all I saw were those stairs leading down Forever by morning I knew I Wasn't staying any longer I packed my things left The Farmhouse and avoided looking toward the well as I walked to the truck I climbed in started the engine and headed down the dirt road feeling like I was leaving

a piece of myself behind my mind kept going back to that voice calling my name the freezing air and the sense of something ancient waiting in the dark I had no proof of anything just the memory of every step and the Chill on my skin I gripped the Steering wheel tight my Knuckles white I felt my pulse in my neck a few miles down the road I pulled over to catch my breath my fingers were still trembling the farm was out of sight but I imagined it was there Sil silently holding that secret in its

ground I don't know if I'll ever go back part of me wonders what I left behind what lies deeper in that Corridor and why my family kept it hidden for so long another part of me wants to forget it all pretend it was a Nightmare but I can't shake the feeling that I opened something I shouldn't have now it's awake and I keep waiting for the day I'll hear my name again echoing from some distant darkness that might not be far enough away I got the call on a Monday afternoon the person on the other

end of the line asked if I was still looking for overnight security work I said yes before I even asked about the place then I found out it was the old delaqua Historical Library on the far side of town my first thought was that it sounded boring but I needed the job they told me to show up at 8 at night meet the head archist and then start right away I arrived at the library Just Before Sunset from the outside it looked like a fortress made of dark stone there were tall windows with iron bars

the front steps were worn in the middle inside the smell was musty like stale air mixed with old leather I saw a bunch Of shelves stretching from the front lobby all the way to the back walls in the middle of the floor stood a circular desk and behind it a small door led to some office area the head archivist was a tall man with a stiff posture his suit looked decades old like something from a vintage store he handed me a ring of keys and explained the basic routine he told me I'd walk the Halls

hourly and make sure no one was trespassing he also said the power sometimes went out so I Should keep a flashlight at hand he mentioned the library contained valuable books many of them centuries old and that they needed extra security after hours he spoke in a clipped voice never smiling he told me to focus on the reading room the archives in the basement and the special collections upstairs he left around 9: I watched him exit through the front doors lock them from outside and disappeared down the Street the place got quiet the overhead lights buzzed

softly and I heard the distant hum of the heating system I made a round through the main hall walking past rows of shelves the old floors creaked under my boots now and then my flashlight beam caught little Moes of dust swirling in the air I kept hearing my own breathing Echo off the high ceiling after a few minutes I realized I hadn't seen a single security camera around maybe the older parts of the Building didn't have modern surveillance installed close to midnight I sat at the front desk and browsed through a log book of some

kind it listed items Borrowed by researchers overdue returns and special specialized requests the pages were filled with handwriting I didn't recognize then I thought I heard a soft whisper I spun around the reading room lights flickered nobody was there and it was silent again I felt my heart speed up I got up took My flashlight and started down one of the aisles the shelves towered over me old spines lined every row my footsteps sounded too loud in that space I paused near a section labeled rare collections this area had a locked gate but I noticed

it was slightly a jar I used my keys to open it properly and went in I saw books behind glass cases some of them were open displaying handwritten notes or illustrations I leaned closer and saw The edges of the pages trembling a bit as if something vibrated under them I told myself it might be the air conditioning but the air felt still then I heard a sound like a page turning very slow I pointed my flashlight along the row of glass cases nothing moved I kept going and eventually came across an open volume lying on

a wooden stand the page was covered in small script I couldn't read all of it but one margin note jumped out it said they gather in the Hush of night the ink looked fresh yet the style of handwriting felt old I touched it expecting wet ink but the page was dry dry my stomach Twisted I checked the publication date printed in 1782 I flipped through more pages I found more notes in the margins all in the same handwriting some were dated from the late 1800s others had no date at all I returned to the main

desk trying to shake off the feeling that something was off I picked up the log Book again hoping for a distraction after a few minutes I heard another sound like quiet Chan it was a repetitive murmur hard to make out I stood up and followed the noise toward the back Stacks each step caused my pulse to jump when I reached the end of the row I saw a faint light under the door leading to the basement archives I pulled out my keys again and opened the door which led down a narrow stairway the air got

colder as I went down the Stairs felt damp I shined my flashlight along the concrete walls pipes ran along the ceiling occasionally dripping water the chanting got louder it sounded like voices repeating short phrases but I couldn't catch any actual words at the bottom of the stairs I found a long hallway with wooden shelves on either side a single light bulb flickered at the far end I took slow steps my breath echoing when I got to the end I found a small Reading area with a single table And a lamp the lamp was on but

nobody was there on the table sat a back of books one was open there were notes in the margins in that same handwriting I'd seen upstairs they mentioned entities that feed on the mind and Whispers that slip through locked doors my Palms were sweaty I flipped a few more pages each had some cryptic note about Watchers guardians or hidden knowledge the chanting continued but I couldn't see where it came from there was no other Door in that room except the one behind me I felt Goosebumps all over my arms and neck I decided to leave

the basement halfway up the stairs I heard the chanting stop my heart pounded I turned off the lamp shut the door and locked it back on the main floor the library lights flickered again the silence became heavier every step made me think someone was right behind me but when I looked back I saw nothing I returned to the main desk checked my phone and Realized it was only 12:45 my shift would last until sunrise the idea of spending five more hours alone in this building made my stomach turn I took a slow walk through the

reading room again rows of tables stood there empty a clock on the wall ticked loudly I kept noticing the edges of books on nearby shelves moving slightly as if they were being pulled outward then pushed back I leaned in close to one shelf and saw a thick Leatherbound volume labeled in Latin the cover twitched when I got near I froze my flashlight shaking in my hand I reached out and touched the spine it felt warm like there was a pulse inside it I yanked my hand away I hurried to the second floor using an old

staircase with a wooden banister up there the lights were dimmer there were more shelves more alcoves and a locked door with a sign reading special collections I tried the keys until I Found the right one inside the ceiling was lower and there were locked glass cabinets in the center of the room I saw ancient manuscripts on display some in languages I didn't recognize a musty smell filled my nose my flashlight caught a movement in the corner I turned quickly I thought I saw a shape slipping behind a cabinet I called out no response I walked

around the cabinets shining my light on the floor my boots made a dull thud on the old boards I Felt something brush against my leg I jumped back but there was nothing on the floor except dust when I looked at the glass cabinet nearest to me I saw my own reflection but behind my reflection I swore I saw a figure a tall shape with a hood or cloak I spun around no one was there my heart hammered against my ribs I noticed a small table in one corner with more book stacked on top one had

a note sticking out I opened it and read the margin note If you see them they see you my mouth went dry I shut the book but I couldn't ignore the footsteps I suddenly heard outside the door steady slow steps moved past the special collections room then they faded I locked up the cabinets and left but the hallway was empty my flashlight beam danced on the floor I tried to keep my breathing under control but my hand shook I decided to Circle back to the main desk the overhead lights flickered again and I heard the

Faint rustle of pages somewhere above me I almost called out for whoever was there but I couldn't find my voice when I reached the desk I saw that the log book was open it was open to a page I didn't remember looking at before there was a single line written across the middle of the page in the same old handwriting we're listening I closed that book and stood there for a while trying to calm my nerves I told myself to stick to the normal routine to do Regular rounds and to act like nothing was happening

I checked the front door it was locked the windows were locked too there were no signs of forced entry I looked outside but saw nothing except a dark Empty Street I flicked off the main lights and turned them on again hoping to reset the flickering it helped a little over the next hour I kept moving patrolling each aisle I used my flashlight to check behind shelves sometimes I spotted faint Shadows that shifted away when my light passed over them other times I heard that murmuring again like a hushed conversation in a distant room I never

found anyone my body felt tense and I had a slight headache I wondered if the library air was contaminated or if I was imagining things the notes I kept finding suggested something else was going on they talked about entities that live in the thoughts of those who read too much they feed on curiosity they Hide in the silence around 2:30 in the morning I headed back down the basement stairs because I wanted to see if anything had changed the hallway was quiet but the table lamp was on again I remembered turning it off I moved

closer and saw more margin notes in the book on the table one said your thoughts are enough I felt a chill in my spine the next page said you open the door they are here I slammed the book shut turned off the lamp and went back Upstairs in the main hall I thought I felt the ground shift maybe it was just me stumbling but it felt like the floor rolled under my feet I grabbed onto a shelf to steady myself my head pounded I forced myself to walk over to a row of reading tables the

lamps were still the air was cold I rubbed my arms to keep warm then I heard soft footfalls near the rare collection's gate I ran there shining my light in every corner the gate was locked like before the glass Cases inside were intact but I I saw one book lying open on a stand turned to a page about mysterious Watchers in ancient Cathedrals I walked around the stand looking for Footprints or any sign of intrusion I saw none but the margin note on that page said they were always here they never left I felt a

strong urge to leave to walk out the front door and not come back but I needed the job so I clenched my teeth and stuck it out I Looked at my phone it was it was just after 3:00 a.m. I decided to go outside for a minute to clear my head but the front door wouldn't budge when I turned the key I tried again twisting harder it felt stuck I tugged a few more times until it finally clicked and I heard a scraping sound the door opened a crack a gust of cold air hit my

face I breathed it in I didn't see anyone around the street lights were dim I shut the door and locked it again telling myself I Just had to survive a few more hours I continued my routine the next two hours were a blur of strange noises flickering lights and that sense of being watched each time I felt a presence I turned around and saw only rows of old books my mouth was dry and my hands felt clammy I noticed the covers of certain books trembled when I passed by as if they were breathing my stomach

tightened each time and I tried not to look at them directly by fing a.m. I was worn out my Heart would race at every small sound I felt the rush of blood in my ears I tried to steady my breathing but my thoughts spiraled I replayed those margin notes warnings about Watchers about how knowledge can become a trap about how these entities feed on thoughts and questions I wondered if I was losing it I also wondered if these things were real my head hurt and my eyes stung I was thirsty but I didn't want to

leave the main floor I didn't Trust the basement or the second floor anymore around 5:30 a.m. faint light started coming in through the windows the sky was still dark but I saw a hint of gray I found a chair near the front desk and sat down pressing my back against the wood I kept my flashlight pointed at the main aisle my legs were stiff and my neck felt sore I counted the minutes until sunrise now and then I heard that faint chant again coming from somewhere deep In the stacks but I refused to go look

at 6:00 to a.m. I heard the back door open the archist stepped in carrying his briefcase he looked at me then glanced around he asked if everything went smoothly I didn't know what to say I told him there were some odd noises but nothing major he just nodded he didn't smile he didn't comment on the flickering lights or the stuffy air he didn't seem surprised by anything I I said I handed him the keys walked out Into the pale Morning Light and felt the chill of dawn on my skin the job wasn't what I expected

something in that Library felt alive I don't know if it was just me or if it was real but I know I felt watched I found notes in books that dated back centuries they had the same handwriting the same warnings and the entire time I was there I heard Pages turning voices muttering and felt the books Tremble When I got too close I don't know if I'll ever go Back but I can't shake the feeling that I brought something with me something that lingered in my thoughts as I left that building maybe it just wanted

me to tell this story or maybe it wanted something else I still haven't decided if I'll show up for my next shift I haven't slept since I got home every time I close my eyes I see Shadows moving between shelves I hear that low chant echoing in my head and I remember those notes They said these entities feed on thoughts they said that reading about them seeing them gives them a way in I don't want that knowledge anymore but it's already there and I'm not sure if anything will make it go away all I can

do is wait and see if tonight will be the same or worse I never thought an old typewriter could change the course of my life I saw it in a thrift store on a Saturday afternoon the thing was on a Dusty Shelf With a crooked price tag surrounded by chipped vases and old lamps I was looking for a spark something that would help me break through the writer's block that had haunted me for months the store smelled like damp cardboard a small fan rattled on the counter I stared at that machine for a while its

Keys looked worn but I liked the shape of its metal frame I paid for it on impulse I lugged it home without thinking about whether it worked back in my apartment I placed it On my kitchen table I remember the weight of it my arms were tense from carrying it up three flights of stairs I ran a finger across the keys and noticed old Flex of rust the roller moved with a slight squeak when I turned the knob I liked that squeak it felt solid like it had a history I made some coffee pulled out

a stack of blank pages and set them next to the machine I had no idea what I would type but I felt an urge to press those keys that first day I only typed a Few words the keys felt stiff and I had to strike them hard the letter e stuck a bit so I tried to loosen it by pressing it over and over I typed random letters to get a feel for everything eventually I managed to produce two short sentences they were ordinary lines about a guy walking in a dark Street I heard a

a metallic click when I finished it was louder than I expected and it sent a small jolt through my chest it reminded me of a door slamming in an empty house But more distant like it came from inside the machine I left the pages on the table and went to watch TV that was my routine whenever I wrote anything I like to step away from it then return after a while to see if it made sense I sat on my couch and flipped through the channels my phone buzzed with a message from an old friend

but I ignored it I couldn't stop thinking about that loud click it didn't sound normal I got up and returned to the kitchen the Typewriter was there silent the page in the roller had my half-written line about a man in a dark Street everything seemed ordinary I decided I was just tired the next morning I woke up with an odd feeling my neck hurt my shoulders felt stiff and I had a hint of a headache I wanted to write again but I Al felt uneasy about the typewriter I ate a quick breakfast and sat down

at the kitchen table I placed my hands on the keys my heart rate went up but I Tried not to think about that I typed one line it said something about a strange figure lurking behind a fence then I typed another line describing a shape with glowing eyes my Palms started to sweat I didn't know where those words came from it didn't feel like I was writing it felt like my hands were moving on their own after I finished a paragraph that strange metallic sound echoed it was sharp and had a slight Echo like a

Scream at the bottom of a well my chest tightened and I had to take a deep breath I looked at what I had typed it was a short passage about a figure hiding in an alley waiting for someone Whispering strange words I blinked at the page because I had no memory of coming up with that description I only remembered pressing the keys I pulled the p AG out of the machine I read it out loud my voice sounded shaky the text mentioned a flicker of movement near a Broken street light it talked about the scent

of old leather and a shuffling sound on the pavement the descriptions were Vivid but I didn't recall imagining them my pulse pounded in my neck I decided to leave the apartment and walk around the block to clear my head outside the sky was gray the air felt damp and my jacket stuck to my arms I walked past a few stores and headed down a quiet side street a flickering street light caught my attention I Paused and realized it was broken on one side like the glass had cracked a dull hum came from the old bulb

I remembered the line in my text about a broken street light that coincidence made my stomach turn I walked faster trying to convince myself it was just random I got back to my apartment with a slight chill the typewriter was still on the table I felt a mix of fear and curiosity I sat down took a fresh sheet of paper and fed it into the roller I Wanted to test something I typed a single line a loud scrape on the window in the middle of the night right after I finished that line the metallic sound

burst from the typewriter my whole body tensed I shut my eyes for a second and breathed slowly I pulled the page out folded it and stuck it in a drawer I told myself I wouldn't look at it again I wanted to see if that scrape would happen tonight or if I was just going crazy the rest of the day passed in a Blur I avoided the kitchen I didn't want to be near that machine I ate a plain sandwich for dinner drank two cups of coffee and watched TV in the dark my mind wandered I

imagined what might happen if that line came true I couldn't relax I eventually went to bed and tried to sleep I tossed and turned for hours staring at the ceiling my eyes felt itchy and my throat was dry around 2: a.m. I heard a faint scraping noise at my bedroom window my heart hammered I Froze the sound came again a slow dragging scratch across the glass my arms broke out in Goosebumps I slid out of bed and tiptoed over to the window I pulled back the curtain and saw a branch swaying in the wind it

was hitting my window at a weird angle I exhaled hard and let out a short shaky laugh then I remembered the words I typed my chest tightened again the next morning I walked into the kitchen with a sense of dread I stared at the typewriter I told Myself I should get rid of it but my curiosity was stronger than my fear I sat down inserted another sheet of paper and started typing this time the words flowed faster they described apparitions swirling shapes and strange Shadows that moved without light my forehead beaded with sweat my hands

trembled but I couldn't stop after each paragraph the machine made that metallic scream like noise it made me Flinch every time my jaw clenched my neck muscles felt tight When I finished I had three pages of text describing horrifying scenes there were details about tall Silhouettes outside a window an odd whisper in a locked room and a black stain spreading across a ceiling I B it back and felt a cold tingling in my spine I didn't know how these ideas got into my mind I stood up paced around the kitchen and tried to control my

breathing I decided to see if any of those details would appear in my real world so I went outside and looked At my building's exterior nothing seemed odd I checked my own ceiling it looked normal I walked around the block again peeking at windows and checking for Silhouettes everything looked normal I felt a small wave of relief maybe the typewriter words wouldn't always come true maybe last night was just an unlucky coincidence that evening I sat on my couch with the pages in my hand I read them again then I heard a faint scraping Sound

in the hallway it sounded like someone dragging something heavy near my door I jumped up and opened the door nobody was there the hallway was empty but I noticed a black scuff mark on the floor it was wide and smeared as if something had scratched the tile the hair on my arm stood on end I went back inside locked the door and leaned against it my heart pounded in my chest I thought about the black stain in my text that detail made me panic I forced Myself to calm down I grabbed the typewriter put it

in a cardboard box and carried it to my storage closet down the hall I placed it on a shelf behind some old suitcases I shut the door and returned to my apartment I felt a little better knowing it wasn't in front of me anymore for the next day or two I avoided thinking about the typewriter I tried writing on my laptop again but the words didn't come I felt Restless my shoulders Achd my back felt tight my mind kept drifting back to the typewriter on the third day I woke up from a strange dream about

missing pages and half- typed sentences my forehead was damp with sweat I decided to face the machine again I went to the storage closet with my flashlight the closet smelled like mothballs my heartbeat sped up I opened the door the typewriter sat there with a thin layer of dust I grabbed it and Carried it back to my apartment my arm shook a little I set it down on my kitchen table I placed a new sheet of paper in the roller my hands tingled with nervous energy I started typing without planning any sentences the words poured

out about Twisted creatures in corners and wet Footprints in empty hallway when I finished the first page the typewriter released that clanging noise it made me jump I kept typing for Another page the story turned into something about a locked drawer with a hidden item my breathing was shallow I couldn't stop by the time I finished my fingers were stiff I had typed four full Pages they detailed scenes of figures pressing their faces against Windows pressing their hands against locked doors and tracing symbols on walls I pulled out the pages and read them each paragraph

felt like a warning as if these things could appear in my own life At any moment my stomach cramped I looked around my apartment half expecting to see a silhouette my living room was quiet the only sounds I heard were the hum of the fridge and the ticking of a small clock on the wall that night I couldn't sleep around midnight I heard something tapping near my bathroom window I got up flicked on the light and walked in the tile felt cold under my feet the window was closed but I saw a few drops of

water trailing Down the glass something outside had brushed against the window I peaked through the blinds the alley behind my building was empty my pulse was racing I turned off the bathroom light and went back to bed but I didn't sleep well I kept hearing soft tapping sounds my mouth was dry my muscles felt weak the next morning I rushed into the kitchen to see if the typewriter was still there it was I stared at it for a long time my mind felt jumbled I wanted to destroy it But I also felt drawn to it

I couldn't stop thinking about how these typed details seem to bleed into my reality maybe if I controlled what I wrote I could steer the outcome I loaded another page and started typing a scene where nothing happened I wrote about a quiet morning with a gentle breeze and a peaceful atmosphere I typed for about 10 minutes describing a calm day with no unusual events then I stopped waited for the metallic noise and felt my heart Slow down the machine gave its usual shriek my ears buzzed my arms felt numb for a moment I pulled out

the paper and read what I wrote it was short I spent the rest of the day waiting to see if that calm morning would become real but I was already living in that morning nothing alarming happened for the rest of the day day I felt a bit hopeful like maybe I had canceled out the creepy details with a normal scene that evening though I heard a strange thump in my Closet I walked over and opened the door my jackets were still my shoes were in place but one of the suitcases had shifted it looked like

it had been pulled forward a few inches I examined it but nothing stood out I put it back closed the door and tried to keep my cool over the next few days Small Things continued to happen I found damp Footprints in my hallway after a heavy rain even though I had wiped my shoes I heard soft Whispers near my air Vents when the heater turned on I caught a glimpse of a figure in the corner of my eye when I passed a mirror but when I turned to look there was nothing there each time my

heart would pound and I'd feel a flush of heat in my face I realized the typewriter wasn't just describing random Horrors it was shaping my environment or maybe it was revealing things that were already there I tried to stop using it but each night I dreamed about it my dreams were full of Frantic typing sounds and that metallic scream my fingers itched to type again finally I decided to confront it I put in one last sheet of paper and started typing what I wanted my life to look like I wrote about feeling safe and having

peace in my apartment I typed Ted about normal days without mysterious Shadows I typed about Clarity and quiet my heart pounded so hard I could feel the pulse in my temples when I finished the machine's metallic noise rang out Again it felt louder than before like a jolt of electricity my ears buzzed I waited staring at the blank walls of my kitchen hoping I had ended it for the rest of the night I didn't hear any odd sounds I slept without interruption but when I woke up there was a single line typed on a sheet

in the roller I didn't remember putting any paper in there the line said it isn't over my body tensed the air felt Heavy I stepped back my hands shook as I pulled the paper out I stared at those words my stomach dropped I felt a cold sweat on my forehead I realized I might never be free of this thing I opened my closet grabbed an empty duffel bag and stuffed the typewriter inside I zipped it shut then I carried it downstairs and loaded it into my car my plan was to drive somewhere far and get

rid of it I didn't care if I had to bury it in a junkyard I just wanted it gone I turned The key in my ignition started driving and forced myself not to look at the bag on the passenger seat my hands were shaking and I kept swallowing hard to calm my nerves as I drove out of my neighborhood I noticed the street lights flickering I spotted a figure standing on a corner under one of those lights I slowed down but then the light steadied and the figure vanished my chest felt tight I hit the

gas and sped up I wanted to distance myself from everything I had Typed I wanted to believe that once the machine was gone my life would return to normal I don't know if it will but I still remember the tension in my body and the look of that single typed line I can't pretend it never happened I can't ignore the sounds I've heard or the shapes I've seen maybe throwing it away won't fix anything maybe I'll always feel those eyes on me in a dark hallway or hear those metallic shrieks when I'm alone at night

but I can't keep living With the machine in my home I have to try that's why I'm driving now heading to an old landfill beyond the city limits I don't know if this will work but it's the only plan I have my Palms are sweating on the steering wheel and my stomach is in knots I just need to keep driving I'm Not Looking Back I'm not slowing down I'm not letting that machine pull me under again I want my life back I'm going to drop this thing and never see it again but a small part

Of me can still hear the clicking of the keys and a small part of me is afraid that wherever I leave it it might find a way back I first noticed the sound on a Wednesday night I was in my living room cleaning up after dinner when a gentle tune caught my ear I paused and listened it was faint and soft like it was coming from under the floorboards the melody was slow with a consistent pattern I remember feeling a Small chill at the base of my neck I thought maybe I left a radio on

somewhere but my entire house was silent the only sound was that steady eerie music under my feet I crouched down and placed my ear against the floor the tune got clearer it sounded like instruments playing in unison I heard strings and a deep percussion that pulsed in steady beats there was no reason for that sound to come from under a living room floor I felt my heart thump faster I stayed like That for maybe a few minutes just listening trying to place the source eventually I got up and walked around the room tapping my foot

on different sections the sound was strongest near the center of the room I decided to ignore it that night I convinced myself it was some issue with the pipes or maybe an electrical hum I tried turning the lights on and off I tested the TV I checked my phone nothing made the sound go away it kept playing a persistent Steady Rhythm like a slow March when I went to bed I could still hear it if I focused but it was so quiet that I managed to fall asleep anyway the next day the sound was gone

in the morning I figured it was just some weird fluke I went about my routine work was normal and I forgot about it until I came home that evening when I walked into the living room I heard the same Melody under the floor it had the same slow Rhythm but now it felt clearer than Before as if it was beckoning me to come closer I felt uneasy my breathing got a bit shallow my Palms felt damp I didn't understand where it was coming from my house is old built in the 1950s but I had never

experienced anything like that before I grabbed a flashlight from my kitchen drawer I moved the coffee table aside I set the flashlight on the floor and got down on my hands and knees I pressed my ear to the boards again this time the Music sounded almost like it was right beneath me separated by just a thin layer of wood I knocked on the floor with my knuckles I expected a dull thud but I got a hollow Echo I wondered if there was a small crawl space or something underneath that I never knew about I decided

to look at the blueprint of the house which I had in a file cabinet I spread it out on the dining table the plans showed a basement a living room a kitchen and two bedrooms There was no mention of an extra space under the living room I double checked the scale everything seemed normal I couldn't find any hidden rooms on the blueprint but that Hollow Echo under the floor told me otherwise when I returned to the living room the music had changed Tempo it was still slow but the percussion had become more pronounced my heart

pounded with each beat my legs trembled a bit my mouth felt dry I tried to keep my hand steady as I shined the Flashlight along the edges of the floor I was looking for some Gap or seam that might indicate a secret entrance I found a few loose boards near the corner but nothing that opened on its own I realized I might have to remove the floorboards if I wanted wanted to see what was underneath that idea made me uncomfortable I had owned this house for 5 years and I had never considered tearing up the

living room floor the thought seemed drastic but the sound was Getting to me the feeling of not knowing what was below made my chest tight my breathing got heavier I wiped sweat from my forehead and tried to clear my mind I decided to do it I grabbed a claw hammer from my garage I chose the spot where the music sounded loudest I began prying the nails free one by one each nail squeaked and resisted the wood creaked and splintered at the edges the entire time the melody continued like an audience waiting for my next move

Finally I lifted a pair of boards beneath them I saw a layer of Dusty beams beyond that there was an open space maybe a foot of Darkness I could feel the cool air coming from it the music intensified it made my skin prickle I brought the flashlight over and angled it downward between the beams I could see something painted on the walls of a cramped chamber the light was weak but I could make out odd shapes in red and black the lines looked Jagged And disorganized I had to pull more boards to get a better

view my heart pounded so hard I could feel it in my ears I tore up enough boards to create a small opening then I pointed the flashlight through the Gap there was a hidden room under my living room it didn't appear on the plans the ceiling was only about 4T High the walls were covered with bizarre symbols the paint looked old cracked and flaking the symbols overlapped in some places they Looked random but something about them made me feel uneasy my pulse raced the hair on my arm stood up my forehead burned with sweat the

air smelled stale like a basement that hadn't been opened in decades I saw a small ladder attached to one wall it looked handmade the wood was uneven and darkened by time I shined the flashlight around until I found a spot to climb down the music was louder than ever it pounded through my head in a steady low Tempo my breathing got Faster my hands shook a little as I grabbed the edges of the opening and lowered myself in inside that space I could barely stand on my knees the floor was dirt packed solid the walls

were close almost claustrophobic my flashlight flickered the music echoed around me I couldn't tell where it was coming from it seemed to vibrate in my chest my pulse matched the percussion my stomach felt tight my mouth tasted bitter I shuffled forward Shining the light along the walls there were symbols everywhere circles triangles lines that Twisted in strange patterns they reminded me of old old runes I had seen in pictures but I didn't recognize any specific meaning they were painted in red black and a kind of chalky white some had dripped or smeared others looked carefully

drawn the music Rose and fell in a steady pattern my ears felt pressurized like I was Underwater I noticed small metal holders attached to the walls they looked like candle holders but there were no candles yet I saw small flickers of light like Flames dancing in midair I couldn't pinpoint The Source they moved in sync with the music pulsing brighter when the percussion hit my breath was ragged my heart hammered in my chest I couldn't figure out how there could be light Without fire my pulse raced with a sense of confusion I reached out to

see if I Could feel any heat but the air was cool the walls felt rough and cold under my fingertips the floor was damp my knees got dir dirty from the soil the smell was musty like a Cellar but there was another odor I couldn't identify something sharp that made me want to gag the symbols seemed to close in on me my flashlight beam felt weaker the music kept droning never stopping always pulsing in that slow deep Rhythm I saw a movement out of the corner of my eye it Was just a flicker of that

strange light but it made me jerk my head around I lost my back bence and almost hit my elbow on the wall I steadied myself with one hand in the dirt my breathing was rapid my throat felt tight I had the strong urge to climb out right then but some part of me wanted to see more something in me had to figure out what was making those sounds I moved a few feet farther my knees achd on the hard ground the tune grew in intensity like It was building toward a climax the percussion felt like

a heartbeat my my own chest matched it I pressed the flashlight against the far wall and I saw a small Al Cove or indentation it was about 2 ft deep symbols lined the inside the floor of that Al Cove had a shiny object on it I leaned closer it looked like a thin disc of metal maybe brass or copper I tried to pick it up but it was stuck it made a scraping noise when I tugged on it that noise Rattled me my heart fluttered in my chest I let it go deciding not to force

it loose the music was so loud then that I couldn't think straight my hands shook my forehead was soaked with sweat my arms felt weak like after too much exertion the flickering lights were stronger moving in synchronized patterns along the walls there was no warmth from them just an unsettling glow I heard my own pulse in my ears I wanted to leave But my legs felt stiff and UNR responsive I forced myself to move I turned around grabbed the small ladder and climbed back up my arms trembled with each rung I dragged myself out of

that hidden chamber and collapsed onto the living room floor my chest heaved my face was hot I just lay there for a few seconds listening to the heavy pounding of the music below it didn't fade it kept going as if it were in my head now my house felt different the air felt Heavy my skin tingled I stood up on shaky legs my clothes were dirty my knees were scratched from the floorboards in the dirt below I was covered in a thin layer of dust the living room lights seemed harsh my eyes struggled to adjust

that Melody continued to seep through the opening I had created I realized I felt drawn to it some urge pulled me back I fought it I paced around the room trying to Steady My my breathing I swallowed several Times trying to get rid of the dryness in my mouth eventually I went to the kitchen for a glass of water my hands trembled so much I spilled some on the counter I wiped it up feeling restless the music never stopped every minute or so I glanced toward the living room my heart kept racing I wasn't sure

what to do I didn't want to go back down there but the thought of leaving that hole open all night felt worse I needed to cover it at least Temporarily I grabbed some plywood and set it over the opening I placed some heavy boxes on top to hold it in place the music was still audible but it was muffled I spent that night on my couch with the TV on hoping the noise would distract me the hidden melody pulsed underneath everything I watched it followed me every time I got up the sound was relentless when

I finally fell asleep I had no idea how late it was I woke up feeling like I hadn't slept at All the music was still there droning I had chills my muscles felt tense as if I had never truly relaxed the next evening I couldn't resist I lifted the plywood and peered down into that space again the music rushed up at me like a gust of cold air my breathing turned ragged my arms felt weak I didn't want to go down but but I also felt a strange compulsion I just stared into the darkness for

a while the flickering lights danced against the walls below The air smelled stale and thick I thought I sensed movement but I couldn't be sure I climbed down again more cautiously this time my flashlight flickered the slow pulse of that otherworldly Melody rattled my nerves my chest felt tight my limbs trembled I noticed that my watch had stopped I couldn't tell how long I'd been down there it might have been five minutes or an hour the music seemed to distort any sense of time I crawled to the spot with The shiny disc again it was

still there I reached out felt the metal and sensed a faint vibration I jerked my hand back my heart pounded the lights on the walls brightened and dimmed with each beat of the percussion I heard a faint scraping noise behind me I turned flashlight sweeping across the cramped space nothing moved my ears felt like they were ringing my eyes stung that thick odor made me cough my Whole body was telling me to leave the urge to escape became too strong I crawled back to the ladder and climbed up I pushed the plywood over the hole

again breathing hard my shirt was soaked in sweat my body shook my hands felt numb now whenever I walk across my living room floor I feel the vibration of that strange Melody it never stops it's quiet sometimes but I can sense it it's like something alive a presence under my house that feeds on those dark Cords I don't know what it wants I don't know if it's always been here or if it somehow found its way in I only know that I hear it and I feel it my arms get goosebumps even when I'm across

the room the lights flicker sometimes and I wonder if it's coming from below I haven't told anyone I haven't boarded it up or tried to seal it part of me thinks it wouldn't matter the sound is there and the space is there whether I acknowledge it or not Each night I hear it in my dreams a steady droning that drowns out everything else when I'm awake I feel it pull at me sometimes I stand in the living room right above that chamber and my heart beats in rhythm with the music I feel sweat trickle down

my back my hands quiver my breath catches in my throat I wish I had never listened to that first note I wish I had never torn up those boards but it's too late now the Chamber below is part of my house and I can't forget it every time I walk across the living room I feel like there's an entire Orchestra under my feet playing a song that shouldn't exist my nights are restless my days feel incomplete I know that if I go down again it will be harder to return that music wants me to join

it it wants me to stay day Below in that tight space surrounded by symbols and flickering lights sometimes I find myself standing Over the opening listening my pulse aligns with the Rhythm my breath catches my fingers itch to grab a tool and pry the floor open again but I stop myself because I'm scared of what will happen if I give in I don't know how to make it vanish I don't know if it ever will it just Waits humming in the depths below feeding on every beak calling me back for a concert that might never

end For for for for for for for for for for for for for for For for for for for for for for e for for