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Echoes of the Damned - Part I of II
Title: Echoes of the Damned written by Swagtastic and Chelse J
They say the best stories are unexplained, forced to live open to interpretation as the story goes. Ethan found it no less than an old campfire story to scare children, but all stories bore resemblance to some sort of reality. So, as a dare influenced by Ethan, who caught wind of the house’s presence, he called to it in a voice. Though faint, its hum pervaded his thoughts and swayed ears in soft rhythms. Mentioning this to Alice, who was half asleep at the time, he barged into her tent hoping she had also heard the hymn. To his surprise, she had, which jolted her out of bed, and they decided to fetch Olivia, who was surprisingly awake, rocking back and forth. Unbeknownst to her, the rhythm that so mindlessly beguiled her gaze was entrancing the eyes of her friends, Alice and Ethan.
"You hear it too, don't you?" Alice said, knowing the answer once they locked eyes. "Yes," Olivia replied, aware that curiosity had piqued the interests of more than one person in their small group. "This was one of the signs the villagers mentioned in their story. I think we should go and..."
"Check it out," Ethan interjected, letting his curiosity get the best of them. "I think so too," Alice agreed. Olivia couldn't help but give off a look of fleeting hope, not wanting to believe that the welcoming tune would invite an unholy amount of despair on such an ominous night. Ethan interrupted her train of thought. "That settles it, Olivia. I guess we're going to check out this house."
"Just a quick glance, just to put your mind at ease," Alice continued. Olivia reluctantly agreed. One moment they were following the river, and the next, there was a sudden shift in scenery, as if the charred trees moved on their own. Twigs snapped here and there, with owls hooting implicitly, their calls blooming from directions that held no vestige. What kept them going was the hum that, despite its beauty, emitted a wind that danced to a pull, inadvertently leading them to the house. But upon arriving, Olivia spoke up. "Okay, guys, I think we should turn back. If the story holds true, then it's connected too." Her words were cut short when the melody abruptly ceased, replaced by a sudden tumult coming from within the dilapidated structure.
A simple nod was all it took from Alice and Ethan before they turned on their heels and began walking away with haste, until the once-closed door undulated open. Instant trepidation settled before reality struck, followed by action as Alice found herself airborne, at the mercy of a pull in such a tottering way. Olivia and Ethan couldn't grab ahold of her hand before her scream was swallowed in shadow and silence, a memory of the moment that now evoked their forced reality. "We have to get her," Ethan said, gasping for a breath he may never catch. "You get help."
"No, I'm going with you."
"No, you're not. I'm not risking your life too. It was my idea to bring us here. Please do what I say. I have to get her before she becomes something I wouldn't recognize." He ran off, hoping to find any opening in this place, leaving Olivia flabbergasted in a trance of bewilderment.
Olivia stood frozen, her mind racing to comprehend the unfolding events before her. The dilapidated house loomed ominously, its open door beckoning her with a sinister invitation. She knew she couldn't let Ethan face the horrors within alone, but fear gripped her heart, paralyzing her body.
As the seconds ticked by, Olivia's determination overcame her fear. She took a deep breath, steeling herself for what lay ahead. With a resolute nod, she stepped forward, crossing the threshold into the dark abyss of the house. The air inside was heavy with an otherworldly presence, and a chill ran down her spine.
The moment Olivia stepped inside, the door slammed shut with a resounding thud, sealing them within the house's confines. Panic surged through Olivia as she whirled around and dashed towards the locked door, pounding her fist against it in a futile attempt to break free. Olivia's desperate screams for help echoed through the house until she realized their futility. They were trapped, with no escape in sight.
Suddenly, a fleeting shadow darted past, accompanied by a chilling breeze that sent shivers down Olivia's spine. Reacting swiftly, she spun around on her heel, her chest heaving with each breath.
Through Olivia's eyes filled with fear, she surveyed the interior, revealing a labyrinth of decaying walls, shattered furniture, and remnants of a once vibrant home. Moonlight seeped through cracked windows, casting unsettling shadows that danced upon the walls. Each step Olivia took reverberated through the desolate halls as she ventured further, her senses heightened in anticipation.
She called out Ethan's name,...
They say the best stories are unexplained, forced to live open to interpretation as the story goes. Ethan found it no less than an old campfire story to scare children, but all stories bore resemblance to some sort of reality. So, as a dare influenced by Ethan, who caught wind of the house’s presence, he called to it in a voice. Though faint, its hum pervaded his thoughts and swayed ears in soft rhythms. Mentioning this to Alice, who was half asleep at the time, he barged into her tent hoping she had also heard the hymn. To his surprise, she had, which jolted her out of bed, and they decided to fetch Olivia, who was surprisingly awake, rocking back and forth. Unbeknownst to her, the rhythm that so mindlessly beguiled her gaze was entrancing the eyes of her friends, Alice and Ethan.
"You hear it too, don't you?" Alice said, knowing the answer once they locked eyes. "Yes," Olivia replied, aware that curiosity had piqued the interests of more than one person in their small group. "This was one of the signs the villagers mentioned in their story. I think we should go and..."
"Check it out," Ethan interjected, letting his curiosity get the best of them. "I think so too," Alice agreed. Olivia couldn't help but give off a look of fleeting hope, not wanting to believe that the welcoming tune would invite an unholy amount of despair on such an ominous night. Ethan interrupted her train of thought. "That settles it, Olivia. I guess we're going to check out this house."
"Just a quick glance, just to put your mind at ease," Alice continued. Olivia reluctantly agreed. One moment they were following the river, and the next, there was a sudden shift in scenery, as if the charred trees moved on their own. Twigs snapped here and there, with owls hooting implicitly, their calls blooming from directions that held no vestige. What kept them going was the hum that, despite its beauty, emitted a wind that danced to a pull, inadvertently leading them to the house. But upon arriving, Olivia spoke up. "Okay, guys, I think we should turn back. If the story holds true, then it's connected too." Her words were cut short when the melody abruptly ceased, replaced by a sudden tumult coming from within the dilapidated structure.
A simple nod was all it took from Alice and Ethan before they turned on their heels and began walking away with haste, until the once-closed door undulated open. Instant trepidation settled before reality struck, followed by action as Alice found herself airborne, at the mercy of a pull in such a tottering way. Olivia and Ethan couldn't grab ahold of her hand before her scream was swallowed in shadow and silence, a memory of the moment that now evoked their forced reality. "We have to get her," Ethan said, gasping for a breath he may never catch. "You get help."
"No, I'm going with you."
"No, you're not. I'm not risking your life too. It was my idea to bring us here. Please do what I say. I have to get her before she becomes something I wouldn't recognize." He ran off, hoping to find any opening in this place, leaving Olivia flabbergasted in a trance of bewilderment.
Olivia stood frozen, her mind racing to comprehend the unfolding events before her. The dilapidated house loomed ominously, its open door beckoning her with a sinister invitation. She knew she couldn't let Ethan face the horrors within alone, but fear gripped her heart, paralyzing her body.
As the seconds ticked by, Olivia's determination overcame her fear. She took a deep breath, steeling herself for what lay ahead. With a resolute nod, she stepped forward, crossing the threshold into the dark abyss of the house. The air inside was heavy with an otherworldly presence, and a chill ran down her spine.
The moment Olivia stepped inside, the door slammed shut with a resounding thud, sealing them within the house's confines. Panic surged through Olivia as she whirled around and dashed towards the locked door, pounding her fist against it in a futile attempt to break free. Olivia's desperate screams for help echoed through the house until she realized their futility. They were trapped, with no escape in sight.
Suddenly, a fleeting shadow darted past, accompanied by a chilling breeze that sent shivers down Olivia's spine. Reacting swiftly, she spun around on her heel, her chest heaving with each breath.
Through Olivia's eyes filled with fear, she surveyed the interior, revealing a labyrinth of decaying walls, shattered furniture, and remnants of a once vibrant home. Moonlight seeped through cracked windows, casting unsettling shadows that danced upon the walls. Each step Olivia took reverberated through the desolate halls as she ventured further, her senses heightened in anticipation.
She called out Ethan's name,...
