Whispers of The Unseen

Shadows of the past

I never thought I'd be the kind of person to feel tethered to the past, yet here I was, standing in front of my mirror, trying to smooth down the wild strands of hair that seemed determined to defy all logic. The light filtered through my window, casting a warm glow over the familiar chaos of my room—posters peeling from the walls, clothes strewn haphazardly across the floor, and that old guitar resting in the corner, gathering dust.

Growing up in a small town where everyone knew everyone's business had its perks, but it also had a way of stifling your dreams. My name is Aria winters, and I've spent most of my nineteen years living in the shadow of my family name. My parents were both surgeons, beloved and respected, and while I appreciated their dedication, I felt like a ghost floating through the halls of their legacy. I always wondered if I'd ever be able to carve out my own identity, or if I'd forever be known as "the surgeons' daughter."

I snapped out of my thoughts and grabbed my jacket, ready to meet Theo, my best friend since kindergarten. He was the kind of person who could light up a room just by entering it, his energy contagious and his laughter echoing in my mind like a favorite song. I always felt more myself around him—free to be weird, quirky, and most importantly, real.

As I stepped outside, the crisp evening air hit me like a splash of cold water, snapping me fully into the present. The sun hung low on the horizon, casting a golden hue over the streets. I hurried down the familiar path to Theo's house, where the sound of his music often spilled out into the world, inviting everyone in.

"Hey, Aria!" Theo called from his front porch, his voice bright and welcoming. He was perched on the steps, a guitar in hand, his black hair bouncing with every strum. "You made it! I was just about to start without you."

I rolled my eyes, a grin spreading across my face. "You wouldn't dare! Who else would provide the much-needed commentary on your terrible singing?"

"Touché," he replied, feigning a dramatic pout. "But I'd like to think I'm improving."

We spent the evening together, Theo playing his favorite songs while I attempted to keep up. Laughter filled the air as we swapped stories about our day, teasing each other about everything from crushes to the weird smells in the cafeteria. It felt good to forget the weight of expectations, even if just for a little while.

But as night fell, an uneasy tension settled in. I glanced at my phone, the screen illuminating the darkness around me. "Have you heard about the rumors?" I asked, trying to sound nonchalant, though I could feel my heart quickening.

"Rumors? You mean the one about the killer?" Theo's eyes widened, but he quickly laughed it off. "Come on, it's just another urban legend. Besides, it's Halloween season—people love to freak each other out with ghost stories."

I nodded, but I couldn't shake the feeling gnawing at me. There had been whispers in school, hushed conversations in the hallways about a figure reminiscent of Ghostface from the movies. The chatter only intensified when news broke earlier in the week that someone had gone missing. I tried to convince myself that it was all just exaggeration, but deep down, a part of me feared it was more than just a tale spun for the season.

Our fun was interrupted when Theo's phone buzzed on the ground between us. He picked it up, his expression shifting from amusement to shock as he read the screen. "Oh, no... Aria, it's happening. They just reported that a body was found—someone was killed. They think it's Ghostface."

The world around me went still. The shadows seemed to deepen, creeping closer, and I could feel the adrenaline surge through my veins. "What do you mean? Are you serious?"

"It's all over the news. They said it's a copycat or something... but people are already freaking out. We should get inside," he said, his voice trembling slightly.