House of Horrors

Chapter Three: Whispers in the Dark

Thea Oswald had been watching from the shadows, her presence a mere whisper in the darkness of the room. As Tommy's voice echoed through the chamber, she turned slowly, her eyes gleaming with an otherworldly light.

"Who are you?" Tommy's voice trembled with a mixture of fear and fascination as he stared at the figure before him.Thea's lips curled into a faint smile, but there was sadness in her eyes, a sorrow that seemed to stretch back through the ages. "I am Thea Oswald," she said, her voice like the rustle of leaves in the wind. "And this is my house." Tommy's heart pounded in his chest as he took a hesitant step forward. "I-I'm sorry for intruding," he stammered, his eyes darting nervously around the room. "I didn't mean any harm. I just came to retrieve my watch." Thea's smile widened, but there was a hint of melancholy in her expression. "Ah, yes. The watch," she murmured, her gaze drifting to the timepiece clutched in Tommy's hand. "A precious memento of a life long past." Tommy swallowed hard, unsure of what to say. He had expected to find darkness and danger within the House of Horrors, but the woman before him seemed almost...human. "Why do you stay here?" he asked, his curiosity getting the better of him despite the fear gnawing at his insides. Thea's gaze drifted to the window, where the moon cast its silver glow upon the world outside. "This house holds secrets," she said softly. "Secrets that must never be forgotten. "As she spoke, Tommy felt a chill run down his spine. He could sense the weight of history in her words, the echoes of a past that refused to be silenced. "But what happened here?" he pressed, his voice barely above a whisper. Thea's eyes darkened, and for a moment, Tommy thought he saw a flicker of pain behind them. "There are some truths that are better left buried," she said cryptically. "But know this, young one—this house has a way of claiming those who dare to unravel its mysteries." Tommy felt a shiver run down his spine at her words, but still, he couldn't tear his gaze away from her haunted eyes. There was something about Thea Oswald, something that drew him in despite the danger that surrounded them.And as the moon hung heavy in the sky, casting long shadows across the room, Tommy knew that he had stumbled upon something far more than he had bargained for—a tale of darkness and despair, of secrets and sorrows, hidden within the walls.