Haunted Secrets

Prologue

Mia's POV

Warning to Readers:

This story may seem like just another adventure, but the deeper you go, the darker it becomes. As you turn each page, be prepared for unsettling encounters, eerie silences, and twists that blur the line between reality and nightmare. The characters may not be the only ones trapped within these haunted walls-once you start reading, you might find it hard to escape too.

If you have a faint heart or an overactive imagination, proceed with caution. This tale is not for the easily spooked, and what begins as curiosity may turn into something far more sinister.

You've been warned.

--

"Are you sure this is the place?" Third asked, his voice uneasy as we stepped out of the car and stared up at the house we had rented for our project.

"Yes, it's the right address. Look!" Third insisted, shoving his iPad in front of us to show the confirmation.

Leo cursed softly under his breath. "You've got to be kidding me..."

Belle, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, wrapped her arms around me. I could feel her trembling. "Mia, this house gives me the creeps," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

I couldn't blame her. Just standing there in front of the rusted gate sent chills down my spine. The house stood at the center of a mountain, isolated and forgotten, with faded paint and rotting wood. It looked like it had been abandoned for decades, and yet here we were, about to step inside.

"It's not that bad," I lied, forcing a smile, though my gut told me otherwise.

"Third," Monika purred as she clung to his arm, her voice dripping with fake fear. "I'm scared... Can you stay close to me?"

Third glanced at me, clearly uncomfortable, but I rolled my eyes and turned away before he could say anything. I wasn't in the mood for their drama.

Determined to get this over with, I approached the rusty gate and knocked. "Hello? Is anyone here?" I called out, my voice echoing eerily in the quiet mountain air.

"We should just leave," Third mumbled, his voice betraying his fear. "This place is seriously creepy."

"Coward," I shot back. "You're the one who found this place, Third! You wanted this location, remember?"

The regret in his eyes was clear, but he didn't have a chance to respond before Leo cut in.

"We've already paid for the place," Leo reminded him, frustration creeping into his voice.

"And it's getting dark," Monika added with a dramatic sigh. "What, do you want us to sleep in the grass? With the mosquitoes?"

Ugh, she's so irritating.

I was about to respond when the gate creaked open on its own, slowly revealing a hunched, elderly woman standing in the shadows. Her presence sent a jolt of unease through my body.

"Are you the ones renting the house?" she asked, her voice crackling like dried leaves.

"Yes, that's us," I answered, forcing a polite smile.

She widened the gate further and gestured for us to enter. "Come in."

Reluctantly, I stepped through the gate, the others following behind me. The moment we entered the property, I was hit with the overwhelming stench of decay. The yard was overgrown, littered with broken furniture and debris. Everything seemed to be in disrepair.

As I glanced back at my friends, I could see the disgust on their faces.

Seriously, get over yourselves.

We finally entered the house, and it was worse than I imagined. Dust coated every surface, cobwebs hung in every corner, and the air was thick with the smell of mildew. The wind outside howled, and every gust seemed to seep through the cracks in the walls, chilling me to the bone. I hugged myself tightly, trying to ward off the eerie feeling that was crawling over my skin.

The house was silent-too silent. Every creak of the floorboards felt amplified, and I couldn't shake the feeling that we weren't alone.