CHAPTER 3
I kick. Hard.
My heel connects with nothing solid, but whatever it is lets go. I scramble backward until my spine hits the banister.
The lights snap back on.
The hallway is empty.
No smoke. No boy. No footprints. Just my candle stub on the floor, wax spilled like it bled out.
My phone buzzes.
UNKNOWN: hello 🙂
I stare at the screen until my eyes burn.
ME: Who is this?
Three dots appear. Disappear. Appear again.
UNKNOWN: you already met me
My hands are sweating so badly I almost drop the phone.
ME: That wasn’t funny.
UNKNOWN: I wasn’t trying to be
I type, delete, type again.
ME: Are you in my house?
The reply comes instantly.
UNKNOWN: always have been
I hear a knock.
Not at the door.
Inside the walls.
One knock. Then another. Then three, like someone counting.
UNKNOWN: they’re listening now
ME: Who??
The knocks stop.
The air goes cold.
UNKNOWN: the ones who kept me asleep
A new message pops up.
UNKNOWN: I didn’t mean to scare you, Jess
Jess.
No one calls me that except my mom, and she hasn’t in years.
ME: You said your name was Jack.
A pause. Longer this time.
UNKNOWN: it is
ME: How old are you?
The typing bubble stalls.
UNKNOWN: older than you UNKNOWN: younger than the house
The floor vibrates. A deep hum crawls up through my feet.
UNKNOWN: if you want me to stay awake UNKNOWN: you have to help me
“Help you how?” I whisper.
My phone buzzes again.
UNKNOWN: meet me tomorrow night UNKNOWN: same hallway UNKNOWN: bring a candle UNKNOWN: and don’t tell anyone
The hum stops.
Downstairs, the front door unlocks.
My parents are home.
I lock my phone and shove it into my pocket just as my mom calls my name.
I don’t answer.
Because somewhere inside the walls, something breathes.
