Tales from the Dark

7.

One rainy evening, Lily decided to take a different route home, a shortcut through the old, abandoned part of town. The streets were deserted, and the rain had created pools of water that reflected the dim glow of the streetlights. She walked quickly, the sound of her footsteps echoing off the crumbling buildings. As she passed an old, boarded-up house, she heard faint music. Curious, she stopped and listened. It was a haunting melody, played on an out-of-tune piano. Lily felt a strange pull, an urge to investigate. Against her better judgment, she pushed open the creaky gate and approached the house. The front door was ajar, and the music grew louder as she stepped inside. The air was damp and musty, the interior shrouded in darkness. She followed the sound down a narrow hallway to a room at the back of the house. The door was slightly open, and through the crack, she could see a dusty grand piano. A figure sat at the bench, playing the eerie tune. Lily hesitated, then gently pushed the door open. "Hello?" she called softly. The music stopped abruptly. The figure at the piano didn't move. Summoning her courage, Lily stepped into the room. As she got closer, she realized the figure was a young woman, her back to Lily. "Are you okay?" Lily asked, her voice trembling. The woman slowly turned her head, and Lily's heart nearly stopped. The woman's eyes were hollow, dark voids, and her face was a pale, lifeless mask. She opened her mouth, and a raspy whisper escaped. "I've been waiting for you." Lily stumbled back, but the door slammed shut, trapping her inside. The woman stood up, her movements unnaturally jerky. "I've been waiting for someone to play with," she said, her voice echoing unnaturally in the small room. Lily backed into a corner, her eyes wide with terror. The woman advanced slowly, her hollow eyes fixed on Lily. "You can't leave now," she hissed. "Stay with me. Forever." The lights flickered, and the room seemed to close in on Lily. She screamed, but the sound was swallowed by the darkness. The last thing she saw was the woman's twisted smile as she reached out, and then everything went black. The next morning, the old house stood silent and empty, the piano gathering dust. Outside, the rain had stopped, but no one noticed the faint strains of music that still played on the wind, a haunting melody that would forever linger in the air.