The Figure in the Doorway

May 2, 2026

by Nikita

1 min read

Story Premise 1 min read (149 words)

"My cousin Clara lives with her husband Leo and their two children, a boy of seven and a girl of five. Their home was small, so they converted the space above the garage into a main bedroom, reached by a short flight of stairs. One evening, after the children were asleep, Clara went to bed […]"

My cousin Clara lives with her husband Leo and their two children, a boy of seven and a girl of five. Their home was small, so they converted the space above the garage into a main bedroom, reached by a short flight of stairs.

One evening, after the children were asleep, Clara went to bed early. Leo was just drifting off when a strange feeling woke him. Their bed faced the entrance to the room, and in the dim light, he saw a man standing in the doorway. It was his grandfather, who had passed away years before.

Leo sat up, his heart pounding. He walked slowly toward the figure. As he got closer, the image faded away. At the same moment, a sharp, chemical smell filled the air. Leo rushed down the stairs and discovered a forgotten laundry load had caused the washing machine to overheat and smolder.

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