collabed w @-shoju- In the dead of night, Emily heard the creaking of the old house settling, but this time, it was different. The sound wasn’t from the floorboards; it was coming from the attic. She froze, straining her ears. The house had been empty for years, ever since her family moved away, and she was here alone, staying overnight to pack up the last of her things. The air grew cold, and the shadows seemed to stretch unnaturally, crawling along the walls like something alive. She grabbed a flashlight, heart racing, and slowly ascended the attic stairs. As she opened the creaky door, a chill swept through the room, and her breath caught in her throat. On the dusty floor was an old mirror, one she didn’t remember ever seeing before. It was cracked, but as Emily approached, the reflection didn’t match her own. Instead, it showed a pale, gaunt figure standing just behind her. She spun around, but no one was there. The figure in the mirror smiled, and Emily’s blood ran cold. Then, in a voice that came from somewhere deep within the walls, she heard a whisper: "You should never have come back."
