Haunted Secrets

Haunted 3

Third POV

"It’s your fault, bro! We got fooled!" Leo shouted, still fuming as we stepped inside the house. The moment we crossed the threshold, we were hit by an overwhelming stench of decay mixed with something metallic. The living room was a chaotic mess, cobwebs draping the corners like ghostly veils, and dark stains splattered across the tiles—almost like dried blood, but in the dim light, it was hard to tell what it really was.

"I know! I know! I picked this place!" I said, frustration evident in my voice as I held up the photo of the house we thought we’d be staying in. “But look at it! It looks so different from the picture, right? What the hell happened?”

“Of course it looks different! It’s edited! Seriously, man!” Gelo retorted, standing up and surveying the disaster that was our supposed vacation home.

“I made a mistake, but I’m not an idiot!” I shot back, feeling my cheeks flush with irritation. It was true—I rushed to finish this project without doing the proper research. My eagerness had backfired spectacularly.

“I didn’t call you an idiot; I said it was stupid!” Gelo clarified, though his laughter suggested otherwise.

“Are you looking for a fight?” I challenged, ready for a back-and-forth.

“No,” he replied, but his smirk said otherwise.

“Can you two just shut up? I’m moving to another room. I’ll be with Belle,” Leo declared, his tone dismissive as he stormed off.

“Like I’m worried about what you guys are up to!” Gelo called after him.

Ignoring their childish bickering, I began to clean up the mess on the bed. Dust swirled into the air, dancing around me as I tried to make the place somewhat livable.

“Just help me out here!” I growled at Gelo, who had erupted into a fit of laughter.

“Crazy,” he muttered, barely able to control his amusement.

---

Mia POV

Monica and I were elbow-deep in dust as we tackled our new room. It was large and spacious, with a faded pink hue that hinted it once belonged to a young girl. Books lined the shelves, their spines cracked, collecting dust like trophies of neglect.

“Mia, this room is disgusting!” Monica whined, pulling her shirt over her nose in a mock display of disgust.

“Is it my fault? Just help out instead of complaining!” I snapped back, not even bothering to glance her way as I kept scrubbing at the grime on the floor.

Just then, Belle opened the door, revealing Leo on the other side. “Where’s our room going to be?” he asked, his voice casual, but his eyes darting around the mess.

“I thought you were with Belle in this room?” Monica replied, irritation creeping into her tone.

“There’s a vacant room down the hall. The master bedroom is probably your best bet, but it’s huge!” I suggested, noting their reluctance. Cleaning that would be a challenge, given its size.

“Alright, I’m going to clean our room first,” Belle said, smiling at me as she slipped back out of the room.

“Do you think they can manage cleaning it?” Monica questioned, eyeing the mess with disdain.

“Are you talking to me now? I thought you hated me,” I said, giving her a smug grin.

“I have no choice!” she huffed.

---

James POV

I jolted awake to the sound of chirping birds, the sun casting a harsh light through the van's windows. I peered around, realizing I was all alone. “They really left me behind,” I muttered under my breath, annoyance creeping in.

Stepping out of the van, I was greeted by the sight of a dilapidated house that looked as if it had been abandoned for years. It was a far cry from the charming place we saw in the photos. The air was thick with an unsettling silence, and I felt a chill run down my spine as I approached the gate, which creaked ominously as I pushed it open.

There was an unmistakable scent of rust and decay, mingled with something sweeter and more sinister. I took a cautious step toward the door, careful to avoid the dead leaves that crunched underfoot, my heart pounding in my chest.

As I stepped inside, the door swung open with an eerie groan, revealing a woman in the shadows. She smiled, but there was something unsettling about her smile—a hint of malice that made my skin crawl.

“Are you here with them?” she asked, her voice smooth yet tinged with something I couldn’t quite place.

“Y-yes,” I stammered, the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end.

“They’re upstairs,” she replied, her eyes narrowing slightly, making me feel like prey in her gaze.

“Th-thank you,” I managed to say, quickly making my way toward the staircase, eager to escape her unsettling presence. But as I climbed the stairs, I felt her gaze bore into my back, a cold sweat forming on my forehead.

At the top, three doors loomed before me, and I hesitated, my heart racing. I opened the first door to find Monica and Mia hard at work, their expressions filled with surprise.

“Sorry!” I mumbled, quickly closing the door, only to find myself staring at the second door. I swung it open and was met with Third and Gelo lounging in the dim light of their room.

“Everything okay?” Gelo asked, his brow raised.

“Left me in the van,” I replied flatly, irritation boiling beneath the surface.

“Sorry, man! Didn’t want to wake you,” Third chuckled, but it fell flat against the unease settling in my stomach.

“Where’s Leo? And Belle?” I asked, trying to shake off the strange feeling from earlier.

“Let them be. They’re in the master bedroom doing… whatever,” Gelo answered, smirking.

“Shut up!” Third tossed a pillow at him, laughing.

Ignoring them, I dropped onto the bed, the dust rising around me like a ghost. I needed to distract myself from the odd vibes this place was giving off.

---

Belle POV

Leo and I busied ourselves in the master bedroom, which was too big for comfort, and the atmosphere felt charged with an unspoken tension. As I cleaned, I felt a presence beside me, and suddenly, his hand was resting on my waist.

I was caught off guard, a shiver of surprise running through me as his breath tickled my neck. “I love you, Belle,” he whispered, his voice deep and intoxicating, sending an unwelcome thrill down my spine. Before I could react, he pressed his lips against my skin, and I felt lightheaded.

In an instant, I was pushed onto the bed, Leo hovering over me, a wild smile spreading across his face. The intensity of the moment clouded my judgment, and I was momentarily lost in his gaze.

“Leo,” I breathed, unsure of how to respond.

He leaned in closer, kissing me deeply, and I found myself instinctively kissing him back. The heat between us escalated until his hand began to wander beneath my shirt, igniting panic within me.

Suddenly, I pushed him away, standing abruptly, my heart racing. “What’s wrong?” he asked, confusion flickering across his face.

“I’m not ready,” I said firmly, but inside, I was trembling.

“What’s going on? Is it always going to be like this, Belle?” His frustration was palpable.

“Sorry, Leo,” I whispered, escaping the suffocating atmosphere and stepping out of the room, my heart pounding against my chest. The weight of the house pressed down on me, and I felt a chill run through my bones, as if the walls themselves were watching.

:>yshanggabi