When Areeba reached the mansion’s front door, she took out the old key her grandmother had given her.
The key felt cold between her fingers.
She inserted it into the lock.
But the lock was already open.
Areeba frowned.
“Grandma told me the mansion was locked…” She slowly pushed the door open.
As soon as it opened, a cold gust of air rushed out from inside.
Areeba took a step back.
It was dark inside.
She turned on her phone’s flashlight and stepped in.
The hall was enormous.
The walls were covered with old paintings.
A huge chandelier hung from the ceiling, its surface covered in a thick layer of dust.
But the strangest thing was…
Despite the dust covering the floor, there was one completely clean path.
As if someone had just walked through there.
Areeba pointed her flashlight toward the floor.
The clean path led straight toward the staircase.
She whispered, “Someone comes here…” Suddenly, the door behind her slammed shut.
BANG!
Areeba screamed.
“Who’s there?” There was no answer.
She immediately turned toward the door.
Then, slowly, she walked closer to it.
She turned the handle.
The door wouldn’t open.
Areeba tried again, pushing harder.
“Is anyone there?” Silence.
Her phone suddenly vibrated.
A message from an unknown number appeared on the screen.
Areeba opened it.
There was only one line: “You shouldn’t have come here.” Areeba’s face turned pale.
She immediately tried calling the number.
It was unavailable.
Then her eyes fell on the staircase.
Up there, in the darkness…
someone’s shadow was standing.
Areeba pointed her flashlight toward it.
The shadow had disappeared.
But the very next moment…
a faint female voice came from upstairs.
“Areeba…” Areeba froze.
Her eyes remained fixed on the staircase.
The voice came again.
This time, it sounded much closer.
“Areeba…” And then…
she heard the sound of anklets.
Ching…
ching…
ching…
Areeba continued staring at the staircase.
Her heart was beating so hard that she could hear every single beat.
“Who’s there?” she asked, gathering all the courage she could.
There was no answer.
Only the faint sound of those anklets…
Ching…
ching…
ching…