The Shadow in the New House

My sister Clara and her partner had just bought their first home. I went to help them arrange furniture and put things away. The moment I stepped through the front door, a deep chill settled over me, as if the walls themselves were holding their breath. I mentioned the strange feeling to Clara, but she laughed it off, saying the house just needed to be lived in. “It’s only unfamiliar,” she said. “We’ll fill it with happy memories.” I pushed my unease aside and focused on helping.

A month later, Clara called our house in a panic, asking for our father. After he hung up, his face was pale. He said there was trouble at Clara’s and we needed to leave immediately.

When we arrived, the house was completely dark, and their driveway was empty. My father knocked loudly on the front door, but no one answered. We lived just fifteen minutes away, so we returned home, confused and worried.

The following day, my father called Clara’s number again. A man’s voice answered.