Outside, the wind blew hard through the trees, making a loud, sad sound like many voices crying out. It felt old and full of secrets that no one should know. Tree branches scratched at the windows like thin, bony fingers, shaking the glass as if the forest wanted to come inside.
The door, still partly open, creaked slowly on its hinges. The sound was long and painful, cutting through the quiet like a knife. It echoed around the stone walls, getting louder and more urgent, like something invisible was trying to open it more… waiting just outside. Watching!! Breathing!!
Kai's eyes snapped to the door. His breath caught in his throat, cold and sharp. The air felt heavier, like something was pressing on his chest. Something had changed. Something felt wrong. Just beyond the doorway, there was a single boot print on the ground—bloody and smeared with something dark and wet. The red stood out clearly on the dirt, as if it had been made only moments ago. Fresh!!
