A struggling journalist rents a house that has been vacant for decades. Every night, the furniture moves, whispers echo through the halls, and shadows creep where there should be none. The deeper he investigates, the more he realizes the house is alive-and it wants something from him.
The town of Ravenshade lay nestled between dark, ancient forests, its streets lined with homes that seemed untouched by time. It was the kind of place where outsiders were noticed immediately, where secrets sat just beneath the surface, whispering to those who dared to listen.
Donald Albert wasn't here for sightseeing. He needed a place to stay, somewhere quiet where he could focus on writing his book-a collection of real-life haunted house stories.
He was also running.
After losing his job as a journalist, a mix of professional embarrassment and personal frustration pushed him toward this project. It was supposed to be a fresh start.
That was when he found the house.
Black Hollow Road, Number 46.
It was too cheap-almost laughably so for a house this size. A two-story Victorian-style home, complete with an attic and basement, sitting on an overgrown property with a rusting iron fence. The kind of place that looked like it had been forgotten.
Donald had seen too many horror movies to ignore the warning signs, but reality was never as dramatic. Houses were cheap for a reason-bad location, poor upkeep, or maybe just an old man looking to offload a property before he died.
He met Mr. Einstein, the landlord, at the house the next morning.
The old man was thin, pale, with a slight hunch in his posture. His dark suit looked a little too formal for a simple house viewing, and his hands trembled slightly as he unlocked the front door.
"You're sure you want this one?" Einstein asked, glancing at Donald with something between curiosity and concern.
"You're still renting it, aren't you?" Donald replied, shifting his bag on his shoulder.
"Yes," Einstein said. "But... it has a history."
Donald smirked. "That's kind of the point. I write about haunted places."
Einstein's lips tightened. "That so?"
"Yeah. Paranormal stories, urban legends. I figured this house might have a good story behind it."
Einsteins looked at him for a long moment, his eyes unreadable. Then, he handed Donald the key.
"If you hear noises at night," he said, voice low and deliberate, "do not investigate."
Donald raised an eyebrow.
"And never stay up past midnight."
A cold breeze drifted through the open doorway. Donald felt a shiver crawl up his spine.
Einstein gave a small, almost pitying smile before walking away.
Inside, the house was cleaner than expected but eerily lifeless. The furniture, though covered in dust, looked recently arranged, as if someone had been preparing for a guest.
The walls were a dull shade of gray, the floors old wood that creaked beneath his steps. There was a fireplace in the main living room, empty, but cold as if it had just been used.
The kitchen was functional but outdated, with a heavy, antique clock hanging on the wall. It wasn't ticking.
His bedroom upstairs was simple-a bed, a desk, a mirror mounted on the closet door. The mirror bothered him for no reason he could explain.
The worst part?
It was too quiet.
Even in an empty house, there was always some noise-wind against the windows, the hum of distant traffic. But here, in Black Hollow Road 46, the silence felt too thick, like a held breath.
It wasn't peaceful.
It was waiting.
---
First Night in the House
Donald unpacked, set up his laptop, and made himself at home.
At around 10:30 PM, he sat at his desk with a bottle of cheap whiskey, writing the introduction to his book.
"What makes a house haunted? Is it the memories of those who lived there, or something older, something deeper? We tell ourselves ghosts aren't real. But what if the house itself is alive?"
He exhaled. Too dramatic.
The air felt colder.
The antique clock in the kitchen-the one that wasn't ticking before-suddenly chimed once.
Donald glanced toward the doorway.
Then, from the hallway outside his room, came a sound.
A soft creak.
Like a footstep.
Donald froze, every instinct telling him that he wasn't alone.
The old landlord's words echoed in his mind.
"If you hear noises at night, do not investigate."
It was probably nothing-the house settling, an animal outside, maybe even the wind.
Still, he found himself slowly reaching for his phone, turning on the flashlight.
The hallway outside his room was empty.
But something felt off.
He walked toward the stairs and peered down. The living room below was dark, the fireplace a yawning black hole.
Then, just as he turned to go back-
A whisper.
Soft. Indistinct. Right behind him.
He spun around, heart hammering.
Nothing.
The hallway was empty.
Shaking his head, he let out a nervous laugh and went back into his room, locking the door behind him.
"Don't be paranoid, Donald."
But as he got into bed, he couldn't shake the feeling.
It felt like the house was watching him,
Morning After
Donald woke up groggy, his head heavy from last night's whiskey. Sunlight streamed through the curtains, and for a brief moment, the house felt normal.
Then, he noticed something.
His desk chair was moved-pulled out slightly.
And his notebook was open, though he was sure he had closed it.
Frowning, he went downstairs.
The front door was unlocked.
He distinctly remembered locking it the night before.
Donald stood still in the middle of the room, feeling his heartbeat in his throat.
Maybe he forgot. Maybe it was just his imagination.
Or maybe-
The house wasn't empty.
And then, from upstairs, he heard it.
A slow, deliberate creak.
Like a footstep.
Right outside his bedroom door.
Retired chess grandmaster Victor Langley, once considered the greatest strategist of his time, has lived in quiet isolation for over a decade after his sudden retirement. One evening, an invitation arrives-an elegant envelope with no return address, containing a single line: "Your final game awaits. Midnight. Blackwood Manor." Curious yet wary, Victor travels to the secluded estate, where he finds six other grandmasters, each legends in their own right, waiting at a long table. The host remains unseen, but a grand chessboard sits before them, each piece set in an unfinished game from their pasts-games they had lost or abandoned. As the night unfolds, it becomes clear that this is no ordinary chess match. One by one, players begin disappearing-and each move on the board seems to dictate their fate. The game is not just about winning; it's about survival. And Victor realizes that someone among them is not who they claim to be.
"There will be no falling in love, we will only act as a loving couple when we are in public, we will share a room to make it believable, but no intimacy, touching is off-limits. We'll only have sex once a month, and that's solely to produce an heir. You won't interfere in my business, and I won't interfere in yours. You will be my wife in every sense and you will not be involved with any other man," he said, arrogance seeping from every word. I watch his mouth move, I'm not ready to fall in love with any man, especially not one as arrogant and egoistic as him. I can handle acting as a loving couple, and as for intimacy once a month. I can agree to that just to satisfy my sexual cravings with no strings attached. "Where can I sign?" I asked since I had nothing to lose. *** Nadine's wedding dreams turned to nightmares when she caught her sister and fiancé cheating! With a secret recording, she's ready for revenge. But then mysterious billionaire Logan West offers a deal: A Contract Marriage to take down her ex's empire. But what Nadine doesn't know is her life is getting complicated as she takes her chance to get revenge or risks everything for a chance at love?"
Katie was forced to marry Dillan, a notorious ruffian. Her younger sister mocked her, "You're just an adopted daughter. Count your blessings for marrying him!" The world anticipated Katie's tribulations, but her married life unfurled with unexpected serenity. She even snagged a lavish mansion in a raffle! Katie jumped into Dillan's arms, credited him as her lucky charm. "No, Katie, it's you who brings me all this luck," Dillan replied. Then, one fateful day, Dillan's childhood friend came to her. "You're not worthy of him. Take this 50 million and leave him!" Katie finally grasped Dillan's true stature—the wealthiest man on the planet. That night, trembling with trepidation, she broached the subject of divorce with Dillan. However, with a domineering embrace, he told her, "I'd give you everything I have. Divorce is off the table!"
A sudden twist of fate connected Helena to a prominent and influential person. To onlookers, she appeared as a naive bimbo. In truth, she was a top-tier specialist, shrouded in layers of hidden identities. Charlie declared, “She’s quite delicate and easily hurt. Cross her, and you’re crossing me.” The elite families, outwitted by Helena's prowess, kept these truths from him. Helena eventually broke free from Charlie, sending him on a frenzied worldwide hunt. To him, she was a bird with dazzling wings, and his goal was to help her reach new heights.
As far as everyone was concerned, William had married Renee under duress. Now that his one true love was back—and with child—they couldn’t wait for him to abandon Renee. Surprisingly, Renee was candid about the situation. "To be honest, I’m the one asking for a divorce every single day. I want it even more than any of you!" But they brushed off her remark as a paltry attempt to save face. Until William made a declaration himself. "Divorce is out of the question. Anyone who spreads false rumors shall face legal consequences!" Renee was at a loss. What was this crazy man up to now?
Ethan always viewed Nyla as a compulsive liar, while she saw him as aloof and insensitive. Nyla had cherished the notion that she was dear to Ethan, yet she felt coldly rejected when she realized her place in his heart was insignificant. No longer trying to break through his coldness, she stepped back, only for him to alter his approach unexpectedly. She challenged him, "If you trust me so little, why keep me around?" Ethan, who had once carried himself with pride, now stood before her with a humble plea. "Nyla, I've made mistakes. Please don't walk away from me."
For ten years, Daniela showered her ex-husband with unwavering devotion, only to discover she was just his biggest joke. Feeling humiliated yet determined, she finally divorced him. Three months later, Daniela returned in grand style. She was now the hidden CEO of a leading brand, a sought-after designer, and a wealthy mining mogul—her success unveiled at her triumphant comeback. Her ex-husband’s entire family rushed over, desperate to beg for forgiveness and plead for another chance. Yet Daniela, now cherished by the famed Mr. Phillips, regarded them with icy disdain. "I’m out of your league."