The town of Ravenwood was quiet, too quiet. It was a place where the fog never lifted, and the sun rarely broke through the thick canopy of ancient trees. It was a place where shadows had weight, and whispers carried on the wind.Ellie had lived in Ravenwood her entire life, growing accustomed to its eerie charm. But tonight, something felt different. As she walked home from her shift at the diner, the fog seemed denser, the shadows darker. She quickened her pace, her footsteps echoing unnervingly in the empty streets.She passed by the old church, its once grand façade now crumbling and overgrown with ivy. A chill ran down her spine as she noticed a light flickering inside. Curiosity getting the better of her, she pushed the heavy wooden door open, the creak echoing through the empty hall.Inside, the air was thick with the smell of mildew and something else, something metallic. The flickering light came from a single candle on the altar, casting grotesque shadows on the walls. As Ellie approached, she saw something that made her blood run cold.Laid out on the altar was an old, leather-bound book. Its pages were yellowed with age, and strange symbols were scrawled in what looked like blood. She reached out to touch it, but as her fingers brushed the cover, the candle was snuffed out, plunging her into darkness.A cold hand clamped down on her shoulder, and she spun around, heart pounding. There was no one there. The church was silent, but she could feel eyes on her, watching, waiting. The air grew colder, and she could see her breath in the dim light filtering through the stained-glass windows.Desperate to escape, she stumbled back towards the door, but it slammed shut before she could reach it. She was trapped. The whispers began then, soft at first, growing louder, more insistent. They spoke of ancient curses and forgotten rituals, of sacrifices made to appease dark gods.Ellie pressed her hands to her ears, but the voices were inside her head, seeping into her very thoughts. She fell to her knees, the oppressive weight of the church pressing down on her. Just as she thought she would go mad, the whispers stopped, replaced by a deafening silence.The door creaked open, and Ellie scrambled to her feet, racing outside. The fog had lifted slightly, and she could see the lights of her house in the distance. She ran, not daring to look back until she was safely inside.Breathing heavily, she locked the door and collapsed on the couch. Her hands were trembling, and her mind was a whirlwind of fear and confusion. She glanced at the clock; it was almost midnight.Just as she began to calm down, there was a knock at the door. A slow, deliberate knock that sent shivers down her spine. She didn't move, barely daring to breathe. The knock came again, louder this time.Ellie rose slowly, her heart hammering in her chest. She approached the door and peered through the peephole. The fog outside had thickened again, and she could see a dark figure standing just beyond the porch light.The knocking ceased, and the figure spoke, its voice a raspy whisper that sent chills down her spine."Ellie, let me in."She backed away from the door, her mind racing. How did it know her name? She had to get out of here. She grabbed her keys and ran to the back door, but it wouldn't budge. The windows were sealed shut. Panic set in as the whispering returned, louder, more insistent."Ellie, let me in."She pressed herself against the wall, tears streaming down her face. The voice was inside now, echoing through the house. She felt a cold breath on her neck, and she turned to see the dark figure standing right behind her.Its eyes were hollow pits, and its mouth twisted into a grotesque smile."Ellie, you can’t escape."With a final, blood-curdling scream, Ellie felt the darkness envelop her, pulling her into a world of shadows and whispers from which there was no escape.
© kanishkadivakar💞