Following the chilling success of their first collection, Lady Eckland, Glenn Riley, and new collaborator, Bella Darkwood return to guide you through the shadowy corridors of fear with their second compendium, *Whispers In The Dark 2*. These master...
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Chapter 1
The walls of the old building creaked and groaned as Emily ascended the stairs to the third floor. She paused on the landing, steadying the heavy box in her arms, and caught her breath. Her dog Max looked up at her, his tail wagging eagerly.
"Just one more flight, boy," Emily said.
Max barked and bounded up the stairs ahead of her. Emily smiled slightly before following. She was already exhausted from moving all day, but she was determined to push through and get settled into her new apartment.
As she walked down the hallway searching for apartment 3E, Emily took in her surroundings. The building had clearly seen better days. The floral wallpaper was faded and peeling, and the wooden floors were scuffed and worn. Yet there was an elegance to the high ceilings and intricate moldings that hinted at the building’s former grandeur.
Emily located her apartment door. As she fished for her keys, the door across the hall caught her eye. The brass numbers read 3F, but unlike her door, this one was strangely missing a knob. In its place was a small silver lock. Emily frowned, noting the thick layer of dust covering the doorframe.
“That’s odd,” she murmured. “I thought all the units here were rented out.”
Max whined, drawing her attention back. As Emily unlocked her apartment, she made a mental note to ask the building manager about unit 3F. But as soon as she opened the door, all other thoughts slipped from her mind.
Her new home. Old and shabby in places, but charming. Sunlight streamed through large windows, illuminating the soft grey walls and worn hardwood floors.
“Isn’t it nice, Max?” Emily sighed contentedly. The spacious one-bedroom was a blessing she hadn’t expected to find in the heart of the city. It was the perfect fresh start for her new life here.
Max barked excitedly and began sniffing every corner. Chuckling, Emily set down the box and headed back downstairs to grab another load.
Within a couple hours, she had moved all her belongings up from the rental truck. She collapsed onto the sofa, muscles aching, as Max curled up happily on her lap.
Emily absently stroked his fur as she took stock of the empty bookshelves and blank walls around her. It still didn’t quite feel like home yet. But she had time.
As the autumn sun set outside, Emily’s stomach rumbled. Too exhausted to contemplate cooking, she decided to order takeout. But as she reached for her phone, a strange scratching sound gave her pause.
She glanced around, listening closely. There it was again - faint but unmistakable. A scratching coming through the wall behind her. The one she shared with apartment 3F.
“Do you hear that, Max?” she asked.
At the mention of his name, Max perked up. He jumped off Emily’s lap and went to go investigate the wall. He sniffed along the peeling floral wallpaper until he reached a vent near the floorboards. A low growl rumbled in his throat.
