HAUNTING OF THE NEW BEGINNING

CHAPTER 5 : THE NOTE

Stella's perspective

It has been two weeks since I last spoke with Lisa. She had gone to her parents' house because her mother called her about her grandfather's unstable health. I didn't know about this until she told me when we were on the phone while she was at her mother's place. The journey was quite a distance, but now that her grandfather was better, she was finally back, and we were catching up over the phone.

Lisa's laughter erupted on the other end. "Oh my god, I can't stop laughing!" she exclaimed, her voice brimming with joy.

"Hey! Stop laughing, you're making me embarrassed," I said, feeling my cheeks flush with embarrassment.

"Oh God, I missed seeing you scared like that. I just wanted to enjoy that moment," Lisa teased. I could almost picture her pouting through the phone.

"Yeah, yeah, very funny," I replied, rolling my eyes even though she couldn't see me.

"Hey, by the way, you wanted to tell me something earlier?" I asked, eager to change the subject.

"Oh yeah, I totally forgot! Well, you know the relative my mom wanted me to meet? It was actually Ravi and his parents! I found out that his parents and my parents were best friends since childhood."

"Really? That's great news! And who knows, maybe they want to turn their long-time friendship into a relationship. What do you think, huh?" I teased, a mischievous grin spreading across my face.

"Oh, come on, you little brat, stop making me flustered," Lisa said, her voice betraying her shyness.

"Oh yeah, sureee," I continued to tease.

*Ding-dong*

The doorbell rang, interrupting our conversation.

"Hey, Liz, I'll call you back. I think there's someone at the door," I said.

"Yeah, okay, sure. Bye, Stel."

"Yup, bye," I said, hanging up the phone and walking towards the main door.

I opened the door. "Yes, how may I—?" I began, but there was no one there. I looked around, scanning the area twice to make sure. "Maybe some kid is messing around. Ah, kids these days," I muttered as I turned to go back inside.

Then, something on the ground caught my eye. A piece of paper. I picked it up, my fingers trembling slightly as I unfolded it.

The note read: "Stay if you dare in this new house of yours, STELLA MORGAN. But remember, once the house claims you, it does not easily let go."

---

As I stood there, clutching the note in my trembling hands, an eerie silence settled over the house. My heart pounded in my chest, a steady drumbeat of fear. The words of the note echoed in my mind, each repetition amplifying my unease.

I forced myself to move, to shake off the paralysis of fear that threatened to engulf me. I closed the door and locked it, the click of the bolt echoing loudly in the empty hallway. I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves, and walked back to the living room.

 The House  feels different now. What had once been a cozy haven now seemed unfamiliar and threatening. Every creak of the floorboards, every rustle of the curtains, set my nerves on edge. I glanced at the clock—8:45 PM. The night had just begun, and already it felt endless.

I needed answers. I grabbed my phone and called Lisa back, my fingers shaking as I dialed her number. The phone rang once, twice, then—

"Stella? What's wrong?" Lisa's voice was filled with concern.

I took a deep breath and recounted everything, my voice barely above a whisper. "Lisa, I'm really scared. What if there's something more to this house than we know?"

Lisa was silent for a moment, then her voice came through, steady and reassuring. "Okay, here's what we'll do. I'll come over. We can figure this out together. Stay calm, Stel."

"Thanks, Lisa. Hurry, please," I said, feeling a small measure of relief at the thought of not being alone.

I hung up and looked around the room, my eyes darting to every corner, every shadow. I felt exposed, vulnerable. I decided to check the rest of the house, making sure all the windows were locked. As I moved from room to room, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being watched.

In the kitchen, I checked the back door. It was locked, but I couldn't help but notice the heavy, oppressive silence that hung in the air. I turned to leave, and my eyes fell on the large kitchen knife lying on the counter. I hesitated, then picked it up, feeling slightly more secure with it in my hand.

As I headed towards the hallway, the lights flickered, plunging the house into momentary darkness. My heart skipped a beat. When the lights came back on, I stood frozen, listening intently. There it was—a soft, almost imperceptible sound coming from upstairs. It was a slow, deliberate creaking, as if someone—or something—was moving stealthily.

Gripping the knife tightly, I took a tentative step towards the staircase. The creaking continued, growing louder as I approached. With each step up the stairs, the sound became more distinct, echoing in the silence. When I reached the top, the sound abruptly stopped. The hallway stretched out before me, dimly lit and ominous.

I walked down the hallway, my senses heightened. As I approached my bedroom door, I noticed it was slightly ajar. I pushed it open with the tip of the knife, holding my breath. The room was empty, but the window was wide open, curtains billowing in the night breeze. My heart pounded as I crossed the room and shut the window, securing the latch.

Suddenly, a loud bang echoed from downstairs, followed by the sound of shattering glass. I spun around, my pulse racing. Something, or someone, was in the house. I bolted down the stairs, knife at the ready, and reached the living room just in time to see a shadowy figure dart out the front door, disappearing into the night.

My phone buzzed in my pocket, startling me. I answered it with trembling hands.

"Stella, I'm almost there. Are you okay?" Lisa's voice was filled with urgency.

"Someone was in the house, Lisa. They just left," I whispered, my voice shaking.

"Stay where you are. I'll be there in two minutes," Lisa said, her voice firm.

I hung up and locked the front door again, my hands still shaking. I backed away, my eyes scanning the room for any signs of the intruder. The house seemed to hold its breath, the tension palpable.

Moments later, I heard a knock on the door. I froze, fear gripping me once again. The knocking grew louder and more frantic, making my stomach churn. Summoning my courage, I approached the door, clutching the knife tightly.

"Stella, it's me, Lisa!" her voice called out, bringing me immense relief.

"Oh God, Lisa, I was so scared," I said, opening the door and hugging her tightly.

"It's okay, I'm here now," she said, hugging me back.

"We need to call the police," Lisa said, her eyes wide with concern.

I nodded, my mind racing. Together, we made the call, explaining the situation as best we could. As we waited for the police to arrive, we sat in the living room, the tension between us heavy.

"Stella, we need to figure out who left that note and why," Lisa said quietly. "There has to be a reason."

"I know," I replied, my voice barely a whisper. "But where do we start?"

The sound of sirens in the distance grew louder, and I felt a flicker of hope. Maybe, just maybe, we could get to the bottom of this mystery before it was too late. But deep down, I couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning.