### The Haunted Treehouse: Part 2

The treehouse was silent, save for the pounding rain and the occasional distant rumble of thunder. The four friends, along with Mike, stood frozen, staring at the door. The loud bang that had echoed moments ago still reverberated in their minds.

"That wasn't you?" Steve asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Mike shook his head, his face pale. "No, it wasn't."

"Then who—or what—was it?" Christine asked, clutching her stuffed bunny even tighter.

"We need to check it out," Alex said, trying to sound brave despite the knot of fear in her stomach. "Maybe it's just the wind or an animal."

Joy nodded, though his face was equally pale. "Yeah, let's stick together."

They cautiously made their way to the door, flashlights in hand. Mike opened the door slowly, and they peered outside into the dark, stormy night. The rain poured down in sheets, and the wind howled through the trees, making it difficult to see anything.

"There's nothing there," Steve said, squinting into the darkness.

Suddenly, they heard another bang, this time louder and accompanied by a rustling sound. They turned their flashlights toward the noise and saw a shadow moving quickly through the trees.

"Did you see that?" Christine gasped, her eyes wide.

"Yeah," Alex replied, her voice trembling. "Let's go back inside. Whatever it is, we don't want to be out here."

They retreated into the treehouse and shut the door, barricading it with whatever they could find. The atmosphere was tense,...